Estimating the Population Coefficient of Variation by Confidence Intervals

Several researchers considered various interval estimators for estimating the population coefficient of variation (CV) of symmetric and skewed distributions. Since they considered at different times and under different simulation conditions, their performances are not comparable as a whole. In this article, an attempt has been made to review some existing estimators along with some proposed methods and compare them under the same simulation condition. In particular, we have considered Hendricks and Robey, Mckay, Miller, Sharma and Krishna, Curto and Pinto, and also some bootstrap proposed interval estimators for estimating the population CV. A simulation study has been conducted to compare the performance of the estimators. Both average widths and coverage probabilities are considered as a criterion of the good estimators. Two real life health related data sets are analyzed to illustrate the findings of the article. Based on the simulation study, some possible good interval estimators have been recommended for the practitioners.     

Diagnostics on nonlinear model with scale mixtures of skew-normal and first-order autoregressive errors

In this work, we develop some diagnostics for nonlinear regression model with scale mixtures of skew-normal (SMSN) and first-order autoregressive errors. The SMSN distribution class covers symmetric as well as asymmetric and heavy-tailed distributions, which offers a more flexible framework for modelling. Maximum-likelihood (ML) estimates are computed via an expectation–maximization-type algorithm. Local influence diagnostics and score test for the correlation are also derived. The performances of the ML estimates and the test statistic are investigated through Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, a real data set is used to illustrate our diagnostic methods.     

Stochastic analysis of covariance when the error distribution is long-tailed symmetric

In this study, we consider stochastic one-way analysis of covariance model when the distribution of the error terms is long-tailed symmetric. Estimators of the unknown model parameters are obtained by using the maximum likelihood (ML) methodology. Iteratively reweighting algorithm is used to compute the ML estimates of the parameters. We also propose new test statistic based on ML estimators for testing the linear contrasts of the treatment effects. In the simulation study, we compare the efficiencies of the traditional least-squares (LS) estimators of the model parameters with the corresponding ML estimators. We also compare the power of the test statistics based on LS and ML estimators, respectively. A real-life example is given at the end of the study.     

Estimation of the coefficient of variation for non-normal model using progressive first-failure-censoring data

The coefficient of variation (CV) is extensively used in many areas of applied statistics including quality control and sampling. It is regarded as a measure of stability or uncertainty, and can indicate the relative dispersion of data in the population to the population mean. In this article, based on progressive first-failure-censored data, we study the behavior of the CV of a random variable that follows a Burr-XII distribution. Specifically, we compute the maximum likelihood estimations and the confidence intervals of CV based on the observed Fisher information matrix using asymptotic distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator and also by using the bootstrapping technique. In addition, we propose to apply Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques to tackle this problem, which allows us to construct the credible intervals. A numerical example based on real data is presented to illustrate the implementation of the proposed procedure. Finally, Monte Carlo simulations are performed to observe the behavior of the proposed methods.     

Parameter estimation for mixtures of skew Laplace normal distributions and application in mixture regression modeling

In this article, we propose mixtures of skew Laplace normal (SLN) distributions to model both skewness and heavy-tailedness in the neous data set as an alternative to mixtures of skew Student-t-normal (STN) distributions. We give the expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm to obtain the maximum likelihood (ML) estimators for the parameters of interest. We also analyze the mixture regression model based on the SLN distribution and provide the ML estimators of the parameters using the EM algorithm. The performance of the proposed mixture model is illustrated by a simulation study and two real data examples.     

A New Estimation Method Based on Order Statistics in the Families of Symmetric Location-scale Distributions

In this study, new unbiased and nonlinear estimators based on order statistics are proposed for the family of symmetric location-scale distributions and these estimators can be computed from both uncensored and symmetric doubly Type II censored samples. In addition, other relevant unbiased estimators are proposed to estimate standard deviations of these new estimators. A simulation study has been performed to evaluate the performance of the new estimators compared to BLU estimators for small sample sizes. As a result of the simulation study, the new estimators proposed for the location-scale family in general performed nearly as good as BLU estimators. Furthermore, the computational advantage of the proposed estimators over BLU and ML estimators are worthy of notice. In addition, these new estimators have been applied to real data, and the estimation results obtained have been compatible with those of BLUE methods.     

Nonlinear semiparametric AR(1) model with skew-symmetric innovations

In this paper, we expand a first-order nonlinear autoregressive (AR) model with skew normal innovations. A semiparametric method is proposed to estimate a nonlinear part of model by using the conditional least squares method for parametric estimation and the nonparametric kernel approach for the AR adjustment estimation. Then computational techniques for parameter estimation are carried out by the maximum likelihood (ML) approach using Expectation-Maximization (EM) type optimization and the explicit iterative form for the ML estimators are obtained. Furthermore, in a simulation study and a real application, the accuracy of the proposed methods is verified.     

Robust estimation and testing in one-way ANOVA for Type II censored samples: skew normal error terms

Censoring can be occurred in many statistical analyses in the framework of experimental design. In this study, we estimate the model parameters in one-way ANOVA under Type II censoring. We assume that the distribution of the error terms is Azzalini's skew normal. We use Tiku's modified maximum likelihood (MML) methodology which is a modified version of the well-known maximum likelihood (ML) in the estimation procedure. Unlike ML methodology, MML methodology is non-iterative and gives explicit estimators of the model parameters. We also propose new test statistics based on the proposed estimators. The performances of the proposed estimators and the test statistics based on them are compared with the corresponding normal theory results via Monte Carlo simulation study. A real life data is analysed to show the implementation of the methodology presented in this paper at the end of the study.     

Estimation from Burr type XII distribution using progressive first-failure censored data

In this paper, a new life test plan called a progressively first-failure-censoring scheme introduced by Wu and Ku? [On estimation based on progressive first-failure-censored sampling, Comput. Statist. Data Anal. 53(10) (2009), pp. 3659–3670] is considered. Based on this type of censoring, the maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayes estimates for some survival time parameters namely reliability and hazard functions, as well as the parameters of the Burr-XII distribution are obtained. The Bayes estimators relative to both the symmetric and asymmetric loss functions are discussed. We use the conjugate prior for the one-shape parameter and discrete prior for the other parameter. Exact and approximate confidence intervals with the exact confidence region for the two-shape parameters are derived. A numerical example using the real data set is provided to illustrate the proposed estimation methods developed here. The ML and the different Bayes estimates are compared via a Monte Carlo simulation study.     

Reliability estimation in multicomponent stress–strength model for Topp-Leone distribution

In this paper, we consider the estimation reliability in multicomponent stress-strength (MSS) model when both the stress and strengths are drawn from Topp-Leone (TL) distribution. The maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian methods are used in the estimation procedure. Bayesian estimates are obtained by using Lindley’s approximation and Gibbs sampling methods, since they cannot be obtained in explicit form in the context of TL. The asymptotic confidence intervals are constructed based on the ML estimators. The Bayesian credible intervals are also constructed using Gibbs sampling. The reliability estimates are compared via an extensive Monte-Carlo simulation study. Finally, a real data set is analysed for illustrative purposes.     

Two-sample prediction for progressively Type-II censored Weibull lifetimes

Prediction on the basis of censored data has an important role in many fields. This article develops a non-Bayesian two-sample prediction based on a progressive Type-II right censoring scheme. We obtain the maximum likelihood (ML) prediction in a general form for lifetime models including the Weibull distribution. The Weibull distribution is considered to obtain the ML predictor (MLP), the ML prediction estimate (MLPE), the asymptotic ML prediction interval (AMLPI), and the asymptotic predictive ML intervals of the sth-order statistic in a future random sample (Y_s) drawn independently from the parent population, for an arbitrary progressive censoring scheme. To reach this aim, we present three ML prediction methods namely the numerical solution, the EM algorithm, and the approximate ML prediction. We compare the performances of the different methods of ML prediction under asymptotic normality and bootstrap methods by Monte Carlo simulation with respect to biases and mean square prediction errors (MSPEs) of the MLPs of Y_s as well as coverage probabilities (CP) and average lengths (AL) of the AMLPIs. Finally, we give a numerical example and a real data sample to assess the computational comparison of these methods of the ML prediction.     

Two-way ANOVA when the distribution of the error terms is skew t

In this article, we assume that the distribution of the error terms is skew t in two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Skew t distribution is very flexible for modeling the symmetric and the skew datasets, since it reduces to the well-known normal, skew normal, and Student's t distributions. We obtain the estimators of the model parameters by using the maximum likelihood (ML) and the modified maximum likelihood (MML) methodologies. We also propose new test statistics based on these estimators for testing the equality of the treatment and the block means and also the interaction effect. The efficiencies of the ML and the MML estimators and the power values of the test statistics based on them are compared with the corresponding normal theory results via Monte Carlo simulation study. Simulation results show that the proposed methodologies are more preferable. We also show that the test statistics based on the ML estimators are more powerful than the test statistics based on the MML estimators as expected. However, power values of the test statistics based on the MML estimators are very close to the corresponding test statistics based on the ML estimators. At the end of the study, a real life example is given to show the implementation of the proposed methodologies.     

Two-Piece location-scale distributions based on scale mixtures of normal family

In this work, we study the maximum likelihood (ML) estimation problem for the parameters of the two-piece (TP) distribution based on the scale mixtures of normal (SMN) distributions. This is a family of skewed distributions that also includes the scales mixtures of normal class, and is flexible enough for modeling symmetric and asymmetric data. The ML estimates of the proposed model parameters are obtained via an expectation-maximization (EM)-type algorithm.     

A comparison of estimators of the geographical relative risk function

The geographical relative risk function is a useful tool for investigating the spatial distribution of disease based on case and control data. The most common way of estimating this function is using the ratio of bivariate kernel density estimates constructed from the locations of cases and controls, respectively. An alternative is to use a local-linear (LL) estimator of the log-relative risk function. In both cases, the choice of bandwidth is critical. In this article, we examine the relative performance of the two estimation techniques using a variety of data-driven bandwidth selection methods, including likelihood cross-validation (CV), least-squares CV, rule-of-thumb reference methods, and a new approximate plug-in (PI) bandwidth for the LL estimator. Our analysis includes the comparison of asymptotic results; a simulation study; and application of the estimators on two real data sets. Our findings suggest that the density ratio method implemented with the least-squares CV bandwidth selector is generally best, with the LL estimator with PI bandwidth being competitive in applications with strong large-scale trends but much worse in situations with elliptical clusters.     

Slashed generalized Rayleigh distribution

We introduce a new family of distributions suitable for fitting positive data sets with high kurtosis which is called the Slashed Generalized Rayleigh Distribution. This distribution arises as the quotient of two independent random variables, one being a generalized Rayleigh distribution in the numerator and the other a power of the uniform distribution in the denominator. We present properties and carry out estimation of the model parameters by moment and maximum likelihood (ML) methods. Finally, we conduct a small simulation study to evaluate the performance of ML estimators and analyze real data sets to illustrate the usefulness of the new model.     

Influence diagnostics in the capital asset pricing model under elliptical distributions

In this paper we consider the Capital Asset Pricing Model under Elliptical (symmetric) Distributions. This class of distributions, which contains the normal distribution, t, contaminated normal and power exponential, among others, offers a more flexible framework for modelling asset prices or returns. In order to analyze the sensibility to possible outliers and/or atypical returns of the maximum likelihood estimators, the local influence method was implemented. The results are illustrated by using a set of shares from companies who trade in the Chilean Stock Market. Our main conclusion is that symmetric distributions having heavier tails than those of the normal distribution, especially the t distribution with small degrees of freedom, show a better fit and allow the reduction of the influence of atypical returns in the maximum likelihood estimators.     

Burr-XII Distribution Parametric Estimation and Estimation of Reliability of Multicomponent Stress-Strength

In this paper, we estimate multicomponent stress-strength reliability by assuming Burr-XII distribution. The research methodology adopted here is to estimate the parameter using maximum likelihood estimation. Reliability is estimated using the maximum likelihood method of estimation and results are compared using the Monte Carlo simulation for small samples. Using real data sets we illustrate the procedure clearly.     

Estimation under modified Weibull distribution based on right censored generalized order statistics

In this paper, the maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayes, by using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), methods are considered to estimate the parameters of three-parameter modified Weibull distribution (MWD(β, τ, λ)) based on a right censored sample of generalized order statistics (gos). Simulation experiments are conducted to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed methods. Some comparisons are carried out between the ML and Bayes methods by computing the mean squared errors (MSEs), Akaike's information criteria (AIC) and Bayesian information criteria (BIC) of the estimates to illustrate the paper. Three real data sets from Weibull(α, β) distribution are introduced and analyzed using the MWD(β, τ, λ) and also using the Weibull(α, β) distribution. A comparison is carried out between the mentioned models based on the corresponding Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K–S) test statistic, {AIC and BIC} to emphasize that the MWD(β, τ, λ) fits the data better than the other distribution. All parameters are estimated based on type-II censored sample, censored upper record values and progressively type-II censored sample which are generated from the real data sets.     

The weighted least square based estimators with censoring indicators missing at random

In this paper, we study linear regression analysis when some of the censoring indicators are missing at random. We define regression calibration estimate, imputation estimate and inverse probability weighted estimate for the regression coefficient vector based on the weighted least squared approach due to Stute (1993), and prove all the estimators are asymptotically normal. A simulation study was conducted to evaluate the finite properties of the proposed estimators, and a real data example is provided to illustrate our methods.     

Efficient estimation of the PDF and the CDF of the inverse Rayleigh distribution

In this paper, we consider the estimation of the probability density function and the cumulative distribution function of the inverse Rayleigh distribution. In this regard, the following estimators are considered: uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator, maximum likelihood (ML) estimator, percentile estimator, least squares estimator and weighted least squares estimator. To do so, analytical expressions are derived for the mean integrated squared error. As the result of simulation studies and real data applications indicate, when the sample size is not very small the ML estimator performs better than the others.