Finite Sample Properties of the Two-Step Empirical Likelihood Estimator

ABSTRACT

We investigate the finite sample properties of two-step empirical likelihood (EL) estimators. These estimators are shown to have the same third-order bias properties as EL itself. The Monte Carlo study provides evidence that (i) higher order asymptotics fails to provide a good approximation in the sense that the bias of the two-step EL estimators can be substantial and sensitive to the number of moment restrictions and (ii) the two-step EL estimators may have heavy tails.     

Finite Sample Properties of the Two-Step Empirical Likelihood Estimator

We investigate the finite sample properties of two-step empirical likelihood (EL) estimators. These estimators are shown to have the same third-order bias properties as EL itself. The Monte Carlo study provides evidence that (i) higher order asymptotics fails to provide a good approximation in the sense that the bias of the two-step EL estimators can be substantial and sensitive to the number of moment restrictions and (ii) the two-step EL estimators may have heavy tails.     

An Adjustment to the Bartlett's Test for Small Sample Size

The Bartlett's test (1937) for equality of variances is based on the χ² distribution approximation. This approximation deteriorates either when the sample size is small (particularly < 4) or when the population number is large. According to a simulation investigation, we find a similar varying trend for the mean differences between empirical distributions of Bartlett's statistics and their χ² approximations. By using the mean differences to represent the distribution departures, a simple adjustment approach on the Bartlett's statistic is proposed on the basis of equal mean principle. The performance before and after adjustment is extensively investigated under equal and unequal sample sizes, with number of populations varying from 3 to 100. Compared with the traditional Bartlett's statistic, the adjusted statistic is distributed more closely to χ² distribution, for homogeneity samples from normal populations. The type I error is well controlled and the power is a little higher after adjustment. In conclusion, the adjustment has good control on the type I error and higher power, and thus is recommended for small samples and large population number when underlying distribution is normal.     

An Explicit Formula for the Risk of the Positive-Part James-Stein Estimator

When estimating a normal mean vector with variance known up to a multiplicative factor, it is well known that the positive-part James-Stein estimator is not admissible, but until now, no one has been able to exhibit a uniformly better estimator. We propose here an explicit formula for the risk of the positive-part James-Stein estimator.     

Coverage-adjusted estimators for mark-recapture in heterogeneous populations

Consideration of coverage yields a new class of estimators of population size for the standard mark-recapture model which permits heterogeneity of capture probabilities. Real data and simulation studies are used to assess these coverage-adjusted estimators. The simulations highlight the need for estimators that perform well for a wide range of values of the mean and coefficient of variation of the capture probabilities. When judged for this type of robustness, the simulations provide good grounds for preferring the new estimators to earlier ones for this model, except when the number of sampling occasions is large. A bootstrapping approach is used to estimate the standard errors of the new estimators, and to obtain confidence intervals for the population size.     

Sample size requirements for rare or abundant attribute sampling

Two approximation procedures to determine required sample size for a Fixed width binomial confidence interval are given and compared to exact calculations as well as the normal and Poisson approximations. The approximation procedures are found to be quite simple but very accurate for estimating sample sizes for either rare or abundant attributes.     

Sample size choice for reliability verification in strength-stress models

This paper discusses the choice of sample size for experiments concerned with inference on R = P(Y < X), where X and Y are normal variates, in an acceptance-sampling-theory framework. A conservative approach is derived, and the properties of this solution examined by simulation.     

不同总体量和样本量时如何计算比例的置信区间

在总体或者总体子集不大情况下的抽样调查中,往往不易得出合理的关于比例的区间估计。这一类问题在抽样调查实践中已经严重到非说不可的地步。文章讨论了在样本量不大或者(和)在总体不大时估计比例的置信区间时往往忽略的问题,并给出了在不同情况下如何计算置信区间的方法。     

Optimal Variable Sample Size and Sampling Interval MSE Chart Based on Improved Square Root Transformation

In the field of statistical process control (SPC), control charts for attributes are widely used to detect the out-of-control condition by checking the number of nondefective units or nondefective in a sample. In this article, we use the average time to signal (ATS) and the average number of observations to signal (ANOS) to evaluate the performance of the optimal variable sample size and sampling interval (VSSI) improved square root transformation (ISRT) mean square error (MSE) (VSSI_ ISRT_ MSE) control chart for attribute data. In addition, this control chart will be used to monitor: (1) the difference between the process mean and the target value, and (2) the process variance shifts. We found that the optimal VSSI_ ISRT_ MSE chart performs better than the specific VSSI, the optimal variable sampling interval (VSI), and the fixed parameters (FP) ISRT_MSE charts. An example is given to illustrate this new proposed approach.     

Double Sampling Ratio-product Estimator of a Finite Population Mean in Sample Surveys

It is well known that two-phase (or double) sampling is of significant use in practice when the population parameter(s) (say, population mean X¯) of the auxiliary variate x is not known. Keeping this in view, we have suggested a class of ratio-product estimators in two-phase sampling with its properties. The asymptotically optimum estimators (AOEs) in the class are identified in two different cases with their variances. Conditions for the proposed estimator to be more efficient than the two-phase sampling ratio, product and mean per unit estimator are investigated. Comparison with single phase sampling is also discussed. An empirical study is carried out to demonstrate the efficiency of the suggested estimator over conventional estimators.     

放回抽样下HT估计量的性质及应用

放回抽样下传统的估计方法是采用Hansen-Hurwitz估计。而放回抽样下HH估计量并不是一致最小方差无偏估计,本文提出了另一种估计方法,即采用Horvitz-Thompson估计,并论证了放回抽样下HT估计量的三条定理,及与HH估计量的比较。然后以放回简单随机抽样和PPS抽样为例,通过理论公式、计算机模拟以及具体案例,进行更具体的分析。说明在一定条件下,HT估计量相对更优。在实际应用中,本文也提出了通过比较方差估计作为选取估计量的准则。     

季度调查的另一种平衡三层次样本轮换模式

季度调查需要样本轮换,采用多阶段抽样设计的季度调查需要多层次样本轮换。针对采用三阶段抽样设计的季度调查,在此之前构造的一种平衡三层次样本轮换模式的基础上,构造了另外一种平衡的三层次样本轮换模式。该模式同样对任何一级单元的任何一次轮换各级抽样单元的样本拼配率保持不变。     

Ratio-Cum-Product Type Exponential Estimator of Finite Population Mean in Stratified Random Sampling

This article addresses the problem of estimating the finite population mean in stratified random sampling using auxiliary information. Motivated by Singh (1967 Singh , M. P. ( 1967 ). Ratio cum product method of estimation . Metrika 12 : 34 – 42 .[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) and Bahl and Tuteja (1991 Bahl , S. , Tuteja , R. K. ( 1991 ). Ratio and product type exponential estimator . Inform. Optimiz. Sci. 12 ( 1 ): 159 – 163 .[Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]) a ratio-cum-product type exponential estimator has been suggested and its bias and mean squared error have been derived under large sample approximation. Suggested estimator has been compared with usual unbiased estimator of population mean in stratified random sampling, combined ratio estimator, combined product estimator, ratio and product type exponential estimator of Singh et al. (2008 Singh , R. , Kumar , M. , Singh , R. D. , Chaudhary , M. K. ( 2008 ). Exponential ratio type estimators in stratified random sampling. Presented in International Symposium on Optimisation and Statistics (I.S.O.S) at A.M.U., Aligarh, India, during 29–31 Dec . [Google Scholar]). Conditions under which suggested estimator is more efficient than other considered estimators have been obtained. A numerical illustration is given in support of the theoretical findings.     

Modified Maximum Likelihood Estimator of Scale Parameter Using Moving Extremes Ranked Set Sampling

A modified maximum likelihood estimator (MMLE) of scale parameter is considered under moving extremes ranked set sampling (MERSS), and its properties are obtained. For some usual scale distributions, we obtain explicit form of the MMLE and prove the MMLE is an unbiased estimator under MERSS. The simulation results show that the MMLE using MERSS is always more efficient than the MLE using simple random sampling, when the same sample size is used. The simulation results also show that the loss of efficiency in using the MMLE instead of the MLE is very small for small sample.     

An Improved Class of Estimators in Two-Phase Sampling Using Two Auxiliary Variables

This article suggests an improved class of estimators under the general framework of two-phase sampling scheme in presence of two auxiliary variables. This class includes a large number of estimators (Chand, 1975 Chand , L. ( 1975 ). Some Ratio-Type Estimator Based on Two or More Auxiliary Variables. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Iowa State University, Iowa . [Google Scholar]; Kiregyera, 1980 Kiregyera , B. ( 1980 ). A chain ratio-type estimator in finite population double sampling using two auxiliary variables . Metrika 27 : 217 – 223 .[Crossref] , [Google Scholar], 3; Mukharjee et al., 1987 Mukharjee , R. , Rao , T. J. , Vijayan , K. ( 1987 ). Regression-type estimators using multiple auxiliary information . Aust. J. Statist. 29 : 244 – 254 . [Google Scholar]) and also the class of estimators suggested by Sahoo et al. (1993 Sahoo , J. , Sahoo , L. N. , Mohanty , S. ( 1993 ). A regression approach to estimation in two phase sampling using two auxiliary variables . Curr. Sci. 65 ( 1 ): 73 – 75 . [Google Scholar]).     

Improved estimators for the location of double exponential distribution

In this paper, attention is focused on estimation of the location parameter in the double exponential case using a weighted linear combination of the sample median and pairs of order statistics, with symmetric distance to both sides from the sample median. Minimizing with respect to weights and distances we get smaller asymptotic variance in the second order. If the number of pairs is taken as infinite and the distances as null we attain the least asymptotic variance in this class of estimators. The Pitman estimator is also noted. Similarly improved estimators are scanned over their probability of concentration to investigate its bound. Numerical comparison of the estimators is shown.     

An Approach to Determine Sample Size and to Allocate Sample Size for a Specific Region in a Multiregional Trial for Survival (Time-to-Event) Data under Accelerated Failure Time Model

For the time-to-event outcome, current methods for sample determination are based on the proportional hazard model. However, if the proportionality assumption fails to capture the relationship between the hazard time and covariates, the proportional hazard model is not suitable to analyze survival data. The accelerated failure time (AFT) model is an alternative method to deal with survival data. In this paper, we address the issue that the relationship between the hazard time and the treatment effect is satisfied with the AFT model to design a multiregional trial. The log-rank test is employed to deal with the heterogeneous effect size among regions. The test statistic for the overall treatment effect is used to determine the total sample size for a multiregional trial, and the proposed criteria are used to rationalize partition sample size to each region.     

Sample size of 12 per group rule of thumb for a pilot study

When designing a clinical trial an appropriate justification for the sample size should be provided in the protocol. However, there are a number of settings when undertaking a pilot trial when there is no prior information to base a sample size on. For such pilot studies the recommendation is a sample size of 12 per group. The justifications for this sample size are based on rationale about feasibility; precision about the mean and variance; and regulatory considerations. The context of the justifications are that future studies will use the information from the pilot in their design. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.