An invariance principle for triangular arrays of dependent variables with application to autocovariance estimation

The invariance principle for triangular arrays of dependent variables is studied. We use the concept of mixingale, proposed by McLeish (1975). Uniform bounds are imposed on the growth of conditional expectations with respect to distant predecessors. The theorem is applied to invariance principles for autocovariance estimates based on triangular arrays of time-series data for weak mixing sequences and linear processes. Such results are required for bootstrap applications.     

Tests for the mean of a multivariate normal population

We study the problem of testing: H₀ : μ ∈ P against H₁ : μ ? P, based on a random sample of N observations from a p-dimensional normal distribution N_p(μ, Σ) with Σ > 0 and P a closed convex positively homogeneous set. We develop the likelihood-ratio test (LRT) for this problem. We show that the union-intersection principle leads to a test equivalent to the LRT. It also gives a large class of tests which are shown to be admissible by Stein's theorem (1956). Finally, we give the α-level cutoff points for the LRT.     

Nonparametric tests for the mean of a non-negative population

We construct level-α tests for testing the null hypothesis that the mean of a non-negative population falls below a prespecified nominal value. These tests make no assumption about the distribution function other than that it be supported on [0,∞). Simple tests are derived based on either the sample mean or the sample product. The nonparametric likelihood ratio test is also discussed in this context. We also derive the uniformly most powerful monotone (UMP) tests for special cases.     

Test for the equality of several correlation coefficients

We derive two C(α) statistics and the likelihood-ratio statistic for testing the equality of several correlation coefficients, from k ≥ 2 independent random samples from bivariate normal populations. The asymptotic relationship of the C(α) tests, the likelihood-ratio test, and a statistic based on the normality assumption of Fisher's Z-transform of the sample correlation coefficient is established. A comparative performance study, in terms of size and power, is then conducted by Monte Carlo simulations. The likelihood-ratio statistic is often too liberal, and the statistic based on Fisher's Z-transform is conservative. The performance of the two C(α) statistics is identical. They maintain significance level well and have almost the same power as the other statistics when empirically calculated critical values of the same size are used. The C(α) statistic based on a noniterative estimate of the common correlation coefficient (based on Fisher's Z-transform) is recommended.