More powerful sign test using median ranked set sample: Finite sample power comparison

Sign test using median ranked set samples (MRSS) is introduced and investigated. We show that, this test is more powerful than the sign tests based on simple random sample (SRS) and ranked set sample (RSS) for finite sample size. It is found that, when the set size of MRSS is odd, the null distribution of the MRSS sign test is the same as the sign test obtained by using SRS. The exact null distributions and the power functions, in case of finite sample sizes, of these tests are derived. Also, the asymptotic distribution of the MRSS sign tests are derived. Numerical comparison of the MRSS sign test power with the power of the SRS sign test and the RSS sign test is given. Illustration of the procedure, using real data set of bilirubin level in Jaundice babies who stay in neonatal intensive care is introduced.     

Marshall–Olkin Extended Lomax Distribution and Its Application to Censored Data

The problem of making statistical inference about θ =P(X > Y) has been under great investigation in the literature using simple random sampling (SRS) data. This problem arises naturally in the area of reliability for a system with strength X and stress Y. In this study, we will consider making statistical inference about θ using ranked set sampling (RSS) data. Several estimators are proposed to estimate θ using RSS. The properties of these estimators are investigated and compared with known estimators based on simple random sample (SRS) data. The proposed estimators based on RSS dominate those based on SRS. A motivated example using real data set is given to illustrate the computation of the newly suggested estimators.     

Efficiency bounds for a generalization of ranked-set sampling

Abstract

Partially rank-ordered set sampling (PROSS) is a generalization of ranked-set sampling (RSS) in which the ranker is not required to give a full ranking in each set. In this paper, we compare the efficiency of the sample mean as an estimator of the population mean under PROSS, RSS, and simple random sampling (SRS). We find that for fixed set size and total sample size, the efficiency of PROSS falls between that of SRS and that of RSS. We also develop a method for finding a sharp upper bound on the efficiency of PROSS relative to SRS for a particular design.     

Sign test for ranked-set sampling

The exact null distribution of the ranked-set sample (RSS) sign test statistic is computed. The power of this test is compared with the simple random sample (SRS) sign test for some continuous symmetric distributions. The problem of imperfect judgement is discussed. The superiority of RSS over SRS is demonstrated.     

Biostatistical genetics and genetic epidemiology

It is well-known that when ranked set sampling (RSS) scheme is employed to estimate the mean of a population, it is more efficient than simple random sampling (SRS) with the same sample size. One can use a RSS analog of SRS regression estimator to estimate the population mean of Y using its concomitant variable X when they are linearly related. Unfortunately, the variance of this estimate cannot be evaluated unless the distribution of X is known. We investigate the use of resampling methods to establish confidence intervals for the regression estimation of the population mean. Simulation studies show that the proposed methods perform well in a variety of situations when the assumption of linearity holds, and decently well under mild non-linearity.     

Entropy estimation and goodness-of-fit tests for the inverse Gaussian and Laplace distributions using paired ranked set sampling

ABSTRACT

In this paper, Vasicek [A test for normality based on sample entropy. J R Stat Soc Ser B. 1976;38:54–59] entropy estimator is modified using paired ranked set sampling (PRSS) method. Also, two goodness-of-fit tests using PRSS are suggested for the inverse Gaussian and Laplace distributions. The new suggested entropy estimator and goodness-of-fit tests using PRSS are compared with their counterparts using simple random sampling (SRS) via Monte Carlo simulations. The critical values of the suggested tests are obtained, and the powers of the tests based on several alternatives hypotheses using SRS and PRSS are calculated. It turns out that the proposed PRSS entropy estimator is more efficient than the SRS counterpart in terms of root mean square error. Also, the proposed PRSS goodness-of-fit tests have higher powers than their counterparts using SRS for all alternative considered in this study.     

Estimation of the shape and scale parameters of Pareto distribution using ranked set sampling

In the current paper, the estimation of the shape and location parameters α and c, respectively, of the Pareto distribution will be considered in cases when c is known and when both are unknown. Simple random sampling (SRS) and ranked set sampling (RSS) will be used, and several traditional and ad hoc estimators will be considered. In addition, the estimators of α, when c is known using an RSS version based on the order statistic that maximizes the Fisher information for a fixed set size, will be considered. These estimators will be compared in terms of their biases and mean square errors. The estimators based on RSS can be real competitors against those based on SRS.     

Exact likelihood inference based on an unified hybrid censored sample from the exponential distribution

Recently, exact confidence bounds and exact likelihood inference have been developed based on hybrid censored samples by Chen and Bhattacharyya [Chen, S. and Bhattacharyya, G.K. (1998). Exact confidence bounds for an exponential parameter under hybrid censoring. Communications in Statistics—Theory and Methods, 17, 1857–1870.], Childs et al. [Childs, A., Chandrasekar, B., Balakrishnan, N. and Kundu, D. (2003). Exact likelihood inference based on Type-I and Type-II hybrid censored samples from the exponential distribution. Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 55, 319–330.], and Chandrasekar et al. [Chandrasekar, B., Childs, A. and Balakrishnan, N. (2004). Exact likelihood inference for the exponential distribution under generalized Type-I and Type-II hybrid censoring. Naval Research Logistics, 51, 994–1004.] for the case of the exponential distribution. In this article, we propose an unified hybrid censoring scheme (HCS) which includes many cases considered earlier as special cases. We then derive the exact distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator as well as exact confidence intervals for the mean of the exponential distribution under this general unified HCS. Finally, we present some examples to illustrate all the methods of inference developed here.     

Paired double-ranked set sampling

Abstract

In environmental monitoring and assessment, the main focus is to achieve observational economy and to collect data with unbiased, efficient and cost-effective sampling methods. Ranked set sampling (RSS) is one traditional method that is mostly used for accomplishing observational economy. In this article, we propose an unbiased sampling scheme, named paired double RSS (PDRSS) for estimating the population mean. We study the performance of the mean estimators under PDRSS based on perfect and imperfect rankings. It is shown that, for perfect ranking, the variance of the mean estimator under PDRSS is always less than the variance of mean estimator based on simple random sampling, paired RSS and RSS. The mean estimators under RSS, median RSS, PDRSS, and double RSS are also compared with the regression estimator of population mean based on SRS. The procedure is also illustrated with a case study using a real data set.     

Ordered partially ordered judgment subset sampling with applications to parametric inference

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we use the idea of order statistics from independent and non-identically distributed random variables to propose ordered partially ordered judgment subset sampling (OPOJSS) and then develop optimal linear parametric inferences. The best linear unbiased and invariant estimators of the location and scale parameters of a location-scale family are developed based on OPOJSS. It is shown that, despite the presence or absence of ranking errors, the proposed estimators with OPOJSS are uniformly better than the existing estimators with simple random sampling (SRS), ranked set sampling (RSS), ordered RSS (ORSS) and partially ordered judgment subset sampling (POJSS). Moreover, we also derive the best linear unbiased estimators (BLUEs) of the unknown parameters of the simple linear regression model with replicated observations using POJSS and OPOJSS. It is found that the BLUEs with OPOJSS are more precise than the BLUEs based on SRS, RSS, ORSS and POJSS.     

On Entropy-Based Test of Exponentiality in Ranked Set Sampling

When the sampling units can be easily ranked than quantified, ranked set sampling (RSS) is a viable alternative to the traditional simple random sampling (SRS). Much effort has been made for modifying basic RSS protocol with the aim of deriving more efficient estimators of the population attributes. Entropy has been seminal in developing measures of distributional disparities as a tool for statistical inference. This article is concerned with testing exponentiality based on sample entropy under some RSS-based designs. A simulation study shows that the proposed tests possess good power properties against several alternatives as compared with the ordinary test based on SRS.     

Exact distribution of the MLEs of the parameters and of the quantiles of two-parameter exponential distribution under hybrid censoring

Epstein [Truncated life tests in the exponential case, Ann. Math. Statist. 25 (1954), pp. 555–564] introduced a hybrid censoring scheme (called Type-I hybrid censoring) and Chen and Bhattacharyya [Exact confidence bounds for an exponential parameter under hybrid censoring, Comm. Statist. Theory Methods 17 (1988), pp. 1857–1870] derived the exact distribution of the maximum-likelihood estimator (MLE) of the mean of a scaled exponential distribution based on a Type-I hybrid censored sample. Childs et al. [Exact likelihood inference based on Type-I and Type-II hybrid censored samples from the exponential distribution, Ann. Inst. Statist. Math. 55 (2003), pp. 319–330] provided an alternate simpler expression for this distribution, and also developed analogous results for another hybrid censoring scheme (called Type-II hybrid censoring). The purpose of this paper is to derive the exact bivariate distribution of the MLE of the parameter vector of a two-parameter exponential model based on hybrid censored samples. The marginal distributions are derived and exact confidence bounds for the parameters are obtained. The results are also used to derive the exact distribution of the MLE of the pth quantile, as well as the corresponding confidence bounds. These exact confidence intervals are then compared with parametric bootstrap confidence intervals in terms of coverage probabilities. Finally, we present some numerical examples to illustrate the methods of inference developed here.     

Unbiased variance estimation in a simple exponential population using ranked set samples

The problem considered in this paper is that of unbiased estimation of the variance of an exponential distribution using a ranked set sample (RSS). We propose some unbiased estimators each of which is better than the non-parametric minimum variance quadratic unbiased estimator based on a balanced ranked set sample as well as the uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator based on a simple random sample (SRS) of the same size. Relative performances of the proposed estimators and a few other properties of the estimators including their robustness under imperfect ranking have also been studied.     

Efficiency of ranked set sampling in entropy estimation and goodness-of-fit testing for the inverse Gaussian law

When measuring units are expensive or time consuming, while ranking them is relatively easy and inexpensive, it is known that ranked set sampling (RSS) is preferable to simple random sampling (SRS). Many authors have suggested several extensions of RSS. As a variation, Al-Saleh and Al-Kadiri [Double ranked set sampling, Statist. Probab. Lett. 48 (2000), pp. 205–212] introduced double ranked set sampling (DRSS) and it was extended by Al-Saleh and Al-Omari [Multistage ranked set sampling, J. Statist. Plann. Inference 102 (2002), pp. 273–286] to multistage ranked set sampling (MSRSS). The entropy of a random variable (r.v.) is a measure of its uncertainty. It is a measure of the amount of information required on the average to determine the value of a (discrete) r.v.. In this work, we discuss entropy estimation in RSS design and aforementioned extensions and compare the results with those in SRS design in terms of bias and root mean square error (RMSE). Motivated by the above observed efficiency, we continue to investigate entropy-based goodness-of-fit test for the inverse Gaussian distribution using RSS. Critical values for some sample sizes determined by means of Monte Carlo simulations are presented for each design. A Monte Carlo power analysis is performed under various alternative hypotheses in order to compare the proposed testing procedure with the existing methods. The results indicate that tests based on RSS and its extensions are superior alternatives to the entropy test based on SRS.     

ROBUSTNESS PROPERTIES OF LOGNORMAL CONFIDENCE INTERVALS FOR LOGNORMAL AND GAMMA DISTRIBUTED DATA

ABSTRACT

The performances of six confidence intervals for estimating the arithmetic mean of a lognormal distribution are compared using simulated data. The first interval considered is based on an exact method and is recommended in U.S. EPA guidance documents for calculating upper confidence limits for contamination data. Two intervals are based on asymptotic properties due to the Central Limit Theorem, and the other three are based on transformations and maximum likelihood estimation. The effects of departures from lognormality on the performance of these intervals are also investigated. The gamma distribution is considered to represent departures from the lognormal distribution. The average width and coverage of each confidence interval is reported for varying mean, variance, and sample size. In the lognormal case, the exact interval gives good coverage, but for small sample sizes and large variances the confidence intervals are too wide. In these cases, an approximation that incorporates sampling variability of the sample variance tends to perform better. When the underlying distribution is a gamma distribution, the intervals based upon the Central Limit Theorem tend to perform better than those based upon lognormal assumptions.     

Performances of some goodness-of-fit tests for sampling designs in ranked set sampling

In this study, we consider different sampling designs of ranked set sampling (RSS) and give empirical distribution function (EDF) estimators for each sampling designs. We provide comparative graphs for the EDFs. Using these EDFs, power of five goodness-of-fit tests are obtained by Monte Carlo simulations for Tukey's g–h distributions under RSS and simple random sampling (SRS). Performances of these tests are compared with the tests based on the SRS. Also, critical values belong to these tests are obtained for different set and cycle sizes.     

Statistical quality control based on ranked set sampling

Different quality control charts for the sample mean are developed using ranked set sampling (RSS), and two of its modifications, namely median ranked set sampling (MRSS) and extreme ranked set sampling (ERSS). These new charts are compared to the usual control charts based on simple random sampling (SRS) data. The charts based on RSS or one of its modifications are shown to have smaller average run length (ARL) than the classical chart when there is a sustained shift in the process mean. The MRSS and ERSS methods are compared with RSS and SRS data, it turns out that MRSS dominates all other methods in terms of the out-of-control ARL performance. Real data are collected using the RSS, MRSS, and ERSS in cases of perfect and imperfect ranking. These data sets are used to construct the corresponding control charts. These charts are compared to usual SRS chart. Throughout this study we are assuming that the underlying distribution is normal. A check of the normality for our example data set indicated that the normality assumption is reasonable.     

Exact inference and prediction for k-sample exponential case under type-ii censoring

The exact inference and prediction intervals for the K-sample exponential scale parameter under doubly Type-II censored samples are derived using an algorithm of Huffer and Lin [Huffer, F.W. and Lin, C.T., 2001, Computing the joint distribution of general linear combinations of spacings or exponen-tial variates. Statistica Sinica, 11, 1141–1157.]. This approach provides a simple way to determine the exact percentage points of the pivotal quantity based on the best linear unbiased estimator in order to develop exact inference for the scale parameter as well as to construct exact prediction intervals for failure times unobserved in the ith sample. Similarly, exact prediction intervals for failure times of units from a future sample can also be easily obtained.     

Improving predictive accuracy of logistic regression model using ranked set samples

Logistic regression is often confronted with separation of likelihood problem, especially with unbalanced success–failure distribution. We propose to address this issue by drawing a ranked set sample (RSS). Simulation studies illustrated the advantages of logistic regression models fitted with RSS samples with small sample size regardless of the distribution of the binary response. As sample size increases, RSS eventually becomes comparable to SRS, but still has the advantage over SRS in mitigating the problem of separation of likelihood. Even in the presence of ranking errors, models from RSS samples yield higher predictive ability than its SRS counterpart.     

Steady-state ranked set sampling and parametric estimation

Ranked set sampling (RSS) was first used to obtain a more efficient estimator of the population mean, as compared to the one based on simple random sampling. This technique is useful when judgment ordering of a simple random sample (SRS) of small size can be done easily and fairly accurately, but exact measurement of an observation is difficult and expensive. It is noted that, due to the complicated likelihood, parametric estimation with RSS is difficult. In this article, the notion of steady-state RSS is introduced, its relation to stratified sampling is established, and its possible use in parametric estimation is explored and put forward for further investigations.