Confidence bands for bivariate quantiles

The problem of calculating joint confidence bands for the quantiles of the bivariate normal distribution is solved. Numerical implementation of the results is discussed and calculations are presented for selected cases.     

Confidence intervals for the largest mean from k correlated normal populations

Let X= (X₁,…, X_k)’ be a k-variate (k ≥ 2) normal random vector with unknown population mean vector μ = (μ₁ ,…, μ_k)’ and covariance matrix Σ of order k and let μ_[1] ≤ … ≤ μ_[k] be the ordered values of the μ ’ s. No prior knowledge of the pairing of the μ_[i] with the X_j. (or μ_[i] with the σ_j ²) is assumed for any i and j (1 ≤ i, j ≤ k). Based on a random sample of N independent vector observations on X, this paper considers both upper and lower (one-sided) and two-sided 100γ% (0 < γ < 1) confidence intervals for μ_[k] and μ_[1], the largest and the smallest mean, respectively, when Σ is known and when Σ is equal to σ²R with common unknown variance σ² > 0 and correlation matrix R known, respectively. An optimum two-sided confidence interval via finding the shortest length from this class is also considered. Necessary tables and computer program to actually apply these procedures are provided.     

A Confidence Interval and Test for the Mean of an Asymmetric Distribution

ABSTRACT

A confidence interval and test are obtained for the mean of an asymmetric distribution using a random sample of size n. The method is based on N. J. Johnson's (1978 Johnson , N. J. ( 1978 ). Modified, t tests and confidence intervals for asymmetrical populations. J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 73 ( 363 ): 536 – 544 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) modified t-test, where terms of Cornish–Fisher expansions involving the third moment are used to adjust the conventional statistic to have more closely a Student's t-distribution with n ? 1 degrees of freedom. Johnson's (1978 Johnson , N. J. ( 1978 ). Modified, t tests and confidence intervals for asymmetrical populations. J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 73 ( 363 ): 536 – 544 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) test cannot be inverted uniquely, so a corresponding confidence interval for the mean may be disjointed. However, an artificial term of small order can be added to make inversion of the test a uniquely defined operation, which prevents such disjointedness. The resulting one-sided and two-sided intervals perform better than others in the literature with skewed distributions, and have good performance with a normal distribution. The two-sided interval may be recommended for general use if the sample size is 10 or more and the nominal confidence coefficient is 95% or less, or if the sample size is 30 or more and the confidence coefficient is 99% or less.     

A further note on the bivariate normal distribution

It is indicated to what extent the conditional normality of the distribution of one comnonent of a bivariate random vector given the value of the other component together with a restricted type of conditional normality or the marginal normality for the other component is equivalent to the bivariate normality of this random vector.     

Bias reduction for nonparametric correlation coefficients under the bivariate normal copula assumption with known detection limits

The authors derive the asymptotic mean and bias of Kendall's tau and Spearman's rho in the presence of left censoring in the bivariate Gaussian copula model. They show that tie corrections for left‐censoring brings the value of these coefficients closer to zero. They also present a bias reduction method and illustrate it through two applications.     

Estimating correlation from categorized bivariate normal data

The polychoric correlation and an approximate maximum likelihood estimator of correlation are compared for count data that are assumed to be derived from an underlying bivariate normal distribution. A related chi squared test for bivariate normality is also examined.     

Maximum correlation for the generalized Sarmanov bivariate distributions

In order to improve the correlation of the traditional Sarmanov distribution, a ‘generalized’ version was introduced earlier by Bairamov et al. (2001). The extent of the improvement in correlation, however, was never investigated in the literature. In this note we compare the two Sarmanov models regarding their maximum correlation. Several examples are given. It is shown that unlike the traditional Sarmanov, the generalized one always has a correlation approaching one regardless of the marginals, as long as the marginals are of the same type. When they are not of the same type, however, the correlation has an upper bound strictly less than one. We find conditions under which the upper bound is attained. Finally, we investigate the rates of convergence to the maximum correlation for the generalized Sarmanov bivariate distributions.     

Fisher's Information on the Correlation Coefficient in Bivariate Logistic Models

From a theoretical perspective, the paper considers the properties of the maximum likelihood estimator of the correlation coefficient, principally regarding precision, in various types of bivariate model which are popular in the applied literature. The models are: 'Full-Full', in which both variables are fully observed; 'Censored-Censored', in which both of the variables are censored at zero; and finally, 'Binary-Binary', in which both variables are observed only in sign. For analytical convenience, the underlying bivariate distribution which is assumed in each of these cases is the bivariate logistic. A central issue is the extent to which censoring reduces the level of Fisher's information pertaining to the correlation coefficient, and therefore reduces the precision with which this important parameter can be estimated.     

Distribution of the correlation coefficient for the class of bivariate elliptical models

We consider n pairs of random variables (X₁₁,X₂₁),(X₁₂,X₂₂),… (X_1n,X_2n) having a bivariate elliptically contoured density of the form where θ₁ θ₂ are location parameters and Δ = ((λ_ik)) is a 2 × 2 symmetric positive definite matrix of scale parameters. The exact distribution of the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient between X₁ and X₂ is obtained. The usual case when a sample of size n is drawn from a bivariate normal population is a special case of the abovementioned model.     

An approximation to percentiles of a variable of the bivariate normal distribution when the other variable is truncated,with applications

A Cornish-Fisher expansion is used to approximate the per-centiles of a variable of the bivariate normal distribution when the other variable is truncated. The expression is in terms of the bivariate cumulants of a singly truncated bivariate normal distribution. The percentiles are useful in the problem of personnel selection where we use a screening variable to screen applicants for employment and a correlated performance variable to screen employees for rehiring. This paper provides a bivariate cumulants table for determining the cutoff score of the performance variable. The following two problems are also con¬sidered: (1) determine the proportion of applicants who would have been successful had no screening been applied, and (2) determine the proportion of individuals being rejected byscreening who would have been successful had they been hired, The variable that is used to measure job performance and the variable that measures the outcome of an aptitude test are assumed to be jointly normally distributed with correlation ρ     

Confidence intervals for the interrater agreement measure kappa

The asympotic normal approximation to the distribution of the estimated measure [kcirc] for evaluating agreement between two raters has been shown to perform poorly for small sample sizes when the true kappa is nonzero. This paper examines the use of skewness corrections and transformations of [kcirc] on the attained confidence levels. Small sample simulations demonstrate the improvement in the agreement between the desired and actual levels of confidence intervals and hypothesis tests that incorporate these corrections.     

Simple computation of a bivariate normal integral arising from a problem of misclassification with applications to the diagnosis of hypertension

The joint distribution of the true and observed values of a variable that is subject to measurement error is bivariate normal.An important special case occurs when we want the joint probability of the true value being below a cutoff point and the observed value above it.In that case the required integral can be simply evaluated using a Gaussian quadrature formula, which can easily be evaluated using a calculator.This formula is used to estimate the probabilities of misclassification of participants in screening programs for hypertension.It shows that basing a diagnosis on a single visit, at which a single measurement was made leads to a very high risk of misclassification.The probability of a subject having a blood pressure below the cutoff point, given that the observed pressure is above it, would be 0.45.Increasing the number of visits to three, and measuring the blood pressure twice at each visit, as advocated by Rosner and Polk (1979), would bring the probability down to 0.29.     

Hypothesis testing on the correlation coefficient

A simple and accurate test on the value of the correlation coefficient in normal bivariate populations is here proposed. Its accuracy compares favourably with any previous approximations.     

Confidence intervals for treatment effect from restricted maximum likelihood

An explicit form of confidence intervals for the treatment effect in random effects meta-analysis model obtained from Harville–Jeske–Kenward–Roger approach is given. These restricted likelihood based intervals are compared to alternative procedures commonly used in collaborative studies when the number of participants is small and study-specific variances are heterogeneous. Monte Carlo simulation experiments show that the former intervals have quite conservative coverage probabilities and favor the latter intervals.     

Estimating the precision of a bivariate population

Quick efficient estimates are proposed for estimating the standard deviation of a circular bivariate population. Two procedures based on extreme observations are considered. The first of these employs the 100 p percent largest observations, while the second utilizes the extreme observations in k radial sectors.     

Numerical computation of rectangular bivariate and trivariate normal and t probabilities

Algorithms for the computation of bivariate and trivariate normal and t probabilities for rectangles are reviewed. The algorithms use numerical integration to approximate transformed probability distribution integrals. A generalization of Plackett's formula is derived for bivariate and trivariate t probabilities. New methods are described for the numerical computation of bivariate and trivariate t probabilities. Test results are provided, along with recommendations for the most efficient algorithms for single and double precision computations.     

Notes on the MLE of correlation coefficient in meta analysis

We study the properties of two approximations to the MLE of the correlation coefficient based on estimates from several studies in meta analysis. Our work is based on an approximation to the density of a function of the sample product-moment estimate due to Dclury, Hsu, and Kraemer. Regarding this approximation, we point out and correct some mistakes in the literature.