A new generalized p-value approach for testing equality of coefficients of variation in k normal populations

A new generalized p-value method is proposed for testing the equality of coefficients of variation in k normal populations. Simulation studies show that the type I error probabilities are close to the nominal level. The proposed test is also compared with likelihood ratio test, modified Bennett's test and score test through Monte Carlo simulation, the results demonstrate that the generalized p-value method has satisfactory performance in terms of sizes and powers.     

Inferences on the Among-Group Variance Component in Unbalanced Heteroscedastic One-Fold Nested Design

This article studies the hypothesis testing and interval estimation for the among-group variance component in unbalanced heteroscedastic one-fold nested design. Based on the concepts of generalized p-value and generalized confidence interval, tests and confidence intervals for the among-group variance component are developed. Furthermore, some simulation results are presented to compare the performance of the proposed approach with those of existing approaches. It is found that the proposed approach and one of the existing approaches can maintain the nominal confidence level across a wide array of scenarios, and therefore are recommended to use in practical problems. Finally, a real example is illustrated.     

Inferences on the reliability in balanced and unbalanced one-way random models

In this article, the hypothesis testing and interval estimation for the reliability parameter are considered in balanced and unbalanced one-way random models. The tests and confidence intervals for the reliability parameter are developed using the concepts of generalized p-value and generalized confidence interval. Furthermore, some simulation results are presented to compare the performances between the proposed approach and the existing approach. For balanced models, the simulation results indicate that the proposed approach can provide satisfactory coverage probabilities and performs better than the existing approaches across the wide array of scenarios, especially for small sample sizes. For unbalanced models, the simulation results show that the two proposed approaches perform more satisfactorily than the existing approach in most cases. Finally, the proposed approaches are illustrated using two real examples.     

Generalized inferences on the common mean vector of several multivariate normal populations

The hypothesis testing and confidence region are considered for the common mean vector of several multivariate normal populations when the covariance matrices are unknown and possibly unequal. A generalized confidence region is derived using the concepts of generalized method based on the generalized p$p$-value. The generalized confidence region is illustrated with two numerical examples. The merits of the proposed method are numerically compared with those of existing methods with respect to their expected area or expected d-dimensional volumes and coverage probabilities under different scenarios.     

Assessing Occupational Exposure via the Unbalanced One-Way Random Effects Model

In this article, an unbalanced one-way random effects model is considered for the log-transformed shift-long exposure measurements. Exact test and confidence interval for the proportion of workers whose mean exposure exceeds the occupational exposure limit are developed based on the concepts of generalized p-value and generalized confidence interval. Some simulation results to compare the performance of the proposed test with that of the existing method are reported. The simulation results indicate that the proposed method appears to have significant gain in the size and power.     

Inferences on correlation coefficients: One-sample,independent and correlated cases

This article concerns inference on the correlation coefficients of a multivariate normal distribution. Inferential procedures based on the concepts of generalized variables (GVs) and generalized p$p$-values are proposed for elements of a correlation matrix. For the simple correlation coefficient, the merits of the generalized confidence limits and other approximate methods are evaluated using a numerical study. The study indicates that the proposed generalized confidence limits are uniformly most accurate even for samples as small as three. The results are extended for comparing two independent correlations, overlapping and non-overlapping dependent correlations. For each problem, the properties of the GV approach and other asymptotic methods are evaluated using Monte Carlo simulation. The GV approach produces satisfactory results for all the problems considered. The methods are illustrated using a few practical examples.     

Exact confidence interval estimation for the difference in diagnostic accuracy with three ordinal diagnostic groups

In the cases with three ordinal diagnostic groups, the important measures of diagnostic accuracy are the volume under surface (VUS) and the partial volume under surface (PVUS) which are the extended forms of the area under curve (AUC) and the partial area under curve (PAUC). This article addresses confidence interval estimation of the difference in paired VUS s and the difference in paired PVUS s. To focus especially on studies with small to moderate sample sizes, we propose an approach based on the concepts of generalized inference. A Monte Carlo study demonstrates that the proposed approach generally can provide confidence intervals with reasonable coverage probabilities even at small sample sizes. The proposed approach is compared to a parametric bootstrap approach and a large sample approach through simulation. Finally, the proposed approach is illustrated via an application to a data set of blood test results of anemia patients.     

The p-values for one-sided hypothesis testing in univariate linear calibration

In this article, we focus on the one-sided hypothesis testing for the univariate linear calibration, where a normally distributed response variable and an explanatory variable are involved. The observations of the response variable corresponding to known values of the explanatory variable are used to make inferences on a single unknown value of the explanatory variable. We apply the generalized inference to the calibration problem, and take the generalized p-value as the test statistic to develop a new p-value for one-sided hypothesis testing, which we refer to as the one-sided posterior predictive p-value. The behavior of the one-sided posterior predictive p-value is numerically compared with that of the generalized p-value, and simulations show that the proposed p-value is quite satisfactory in the frequentist performance.     

The adaptive calibration of testing p-values

Abstract

In statistical hypothesis testing, a p-value is expected to be distributed as the uniform distribution on the interval (0, 1) under the null hypothesis. However, some p-values, such as the generalized p-value and the posterior predictive p-value, cannot be assured of this property. In this paper, we propose an adaptive p-value calibration approach, and show that the calibrated p-value is asymptotically distributed as the uniform distribution. For Behrens–Fisher problem and goodness-of-fit test under a normal model, the calibrated p-values are constructed and their behavior is evaluated numerically. Simulations show that the calibrated p-values are superior than original ones.     

Estimation of P(Y < X) for progressively first-failure-censored generalized inverted exponential distribution

In this article, we consider the problem of estimation of the stress–strength parameter δ?=?P(Y?<?X) based on progressively first-failure-censored samples, when X and Y both follow two-parameter generalized inverted exponential distribution with different and unknown shape and scale parameters. The maximum likelihood estimator of δ and its asymptotic confidence interval based on observed Fisher information are constructed. Two parametric bootstrap boot-p and boot-t confidence intervals are proposed. We also apply Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques to carry out Bayes estimation procedures. Bayes estimate under squared error loss function and the HPD credible interval of δ are obtained using informative and non-informative priors. A Monte Carlo simulation study is carried out for comparing the proposed methods of estimation. Finally, the methods developed are illustrated with a couple of real data examples.     

The generalized inference on the sign testing problem about the normal variances

For the sign testing problem about the normal variances, we develop the heuristic testing procedure based on the concept of generalized test variable and generalized p-value. A detailed simulation study is conducted to empirically investigate the performance of the proposed method. Through the simulation study, especially in small sample sizes, the proposed test not only adequately controls empirical size at the nominal level, but also uniformly more powerful than likelihood ratio test, Gutmann's test, Li and Sinha's test and Liu and Chan's test, showing that the proposed method can be recommended in practice. The proposed method is illustrated with the published data.     

Inference of R=P[X<Y] for generalized logistic distribution

This paper deals with the estimation of R=P[X<Y] when X and Y come from two independent generalized logistic distributions with different parameters. The maximum-likelihood estimator (MLE) and its asymptotic distribution are proposed. The asymptotic distribution is used to construct an asymptotic confidence interval of R. Assuming that the common scale parameter is known, the MLE, uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator, Bayes estimation and confidence interval of R are obtained. The MLE of R, asymptotic distribution of R in the general case, is also discussed. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to compare the different proposed methods. Analysis of a real data set has also been presented for illustrative purposes.     

Testing Homogeneity of Inverse Gaussian Scale Parameters Based on Generalized Likelihood Ratio

This article presents a new procedure for testing homogeneity of scale parameters from k independent inverse Gaussian populations. Based on the idea of generalized likelihood ratio method, a new generalized p-value is derived. Some simulation results are presented to compare the performance of the proposed method and existing methods. Numerical results show that the proposed test has good size and power performance.     

Generalized Inferences on the Common Mean in MANOVA Models

This article presents procedures for testing hypothesis and interval estimation of the common mean vector in MANOVA models when the covariance matrices are unknown and unequal. The methods are based on the concepts of generalized p-value and generalized confidence interval. Some important statistical properties of the exact test and confidence region are given. For two multivariate normal populations, a minor modification to the combined tests given by Zhou and Mathew (1994a Zhou , L. P. , Mathew , T. ( 1994a ). Combining independent tests in multivariate linear models . J. Multivariate Anal. 51 : 265 – 276 . [Google Scholar]) is proposed. Some simulation results to compare the performance of the proposed tests with others are reported. The simulation results indicate that new tests have significant gain in the power.     

Reliable confidence intervals for assessing normal process incapability

This study aims to provide a reliable confidence interval for assessing the process incapability index [C_pp]. The concept of the generalized pivotal quantities is utilized for constructing the generalized confidence interval for [C_pp]. And, simulations are performed for demonstrating our proposed method and one existent method. The results show that the empirical confidences of these two methods are significantly affected by the degree of process departure. Therefore, we suggest the practitioners to select proper one for capability testing purpose based on the information of degree of process departure.     

Inference of stress-strength for the Type-II generalized logistic distribution under progressively Type-II censored samples

This article studies the estimation of the reliability R = P[Y < X] when X and Y come from two independent generalized logistic distributions of Type-II with different parameters, based on progressively Type-II censored samples. When the common scale parameter is unknown, the maximum likelihood estimator and its asymptotic distribution are proposed. The asymptotic distribution is used to construct an asymptotic confidence interval of R. Bayes estimator of R and the corresponding credible interval using the Gibbs sampling technique have been proposed too. Assuming that the common scale parameter is known, the maximum likelihood estimator, uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator, Bayes estimation, and confidence interval of R are extracted. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to compare the different proposed methods. Analysis of a real dataset is given for illustrative purposes. Finally, methods are extended for proportional hazard rate models.     

Smooth-Threshold GEE Variable Selection in High-Dimensional Partially Linear Models with Longitudinal Data

We consider the problem of variable selection in high-dimensional partially linear models with longitudinal data. A variable selection procedure is proposed based on the smooth-threshold generalized estimating equation (SGEE). The proposed procedure automatically eliminates inactive predictors by setting the corresponding parameters to be zero, and simultaneously estimates the nonzero regression coefficients by solving the SGEE. We establish the asymptotic properties in a high-dimensional framework where the number of covariates p_n increases as the number of clusters n increases. Extensive Monte Carlo simulation studies are conducted to examine the finite sample performance of the proposed variable selection procedure.     

Confidence interval estimation of the difference between paired AUCs based on combined biomarkers

In many diagnostic studies, multiple diagnostic tests are performed on each subject or multiple disease markers are available. Commonly, the information should be combined to improve the diagnostic accuracy. We consider the problem of comparing the discriminatory abilities between two groups of biomarkers. Specifically, this article focuses on confidence interval estimation of the difference between paired AUCs based on optimally combined markers under the assumption of multivariate normality. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed generalized variable approach provides confidence intervals with satisfying coverage probabilities at finite sample sizes. The proposed method can also easily provide P-values for hypothesis testing. Application to analysis of a subset of data from a study on coronary heart disease illustrates the utility of the method in practice.     

Estimation and inference for varying coefficient partially nonlinear errors-in-variables models

In this article, we study the varying coefficient partially nonlinear model with measurement errors in the nonparametric part. A local corrected profile nonlinear least-square estimation procedure is proposed and the asymptotic properties of the resulting estimators are established. Further, a generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) statistic is proposed to test whether the varying coefficients are constant. The asymptotic null distribution of the statistic is obtained and a residual-based bootstrap procedure is employed to compute the p-value of the statistic. Some simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed methods. The results show that the estimating and testing procedures work well in finite samples.     

Testing the equality of quantiles for several normal populations

Many procedures exist for testing equality of means or medians to compare several independent distributions. However, the mean or median do not determine the entire distribution. In this article, we propose a new small-sample modification of the likelihood ratio test for testing the equality of the quantiles of several normal distributions. The merits of the proposed test are numerically compared with the existing tests—a generalized p-value method and likelihood ratio test—with respect to their sizes and powers. The simulation results demonstrate that proposed method is satisfactory; its actual size is very close to the nominal level. We illustrate these approaches using two real examples.