Testing for generalized linear mixed models with cluster correlated data under linear inequality constraints

Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) are often used for analyzing cluster correlated data, including longitudinal data and repeated measurements. Full unrestricted maximum likelihood (ML) approaches for inference on both fixed‐and random‐effects parameters in GLMMs have been extensively studied in the literature. However, parameter orderings or constraints may occur naturally in practice, and in such cases, the efficiency of a statistical method is improved by incorporating the parameter constraints into the ML estimation and hypothesis testing. In this paper, inference for GLMMs under linear inequality constraints is considered. The asymptotic properties of the constrained ML estimators and constrained likelihood ratio tests for GLMMs have been studied. Simulations investigated the empirical properties of the constrained ML estimators, compared to their unrestricted counterparts. An application to a recent survey on Canadian youth smoking patterns is also presented. As these survey data exhibit natural parameter orderings, a constrained GLMM has been considered for data analysis. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 40: 243–258; 2012 © 2012 Crown in the right of Canada     

Constrained inference for generalized linear models with incomplete covariate data

Missing data are common in many experiments, including surveys, clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and environmental studies. Unconstrained likelihood inferences for generalized linear models (GLMs) with nonignorable missing covariates have been studied extensively in the literature. However, parameter orderings or constraints may occur naturally in practice, and thus the efficiency of a statistical method may be improved by incorporating parameter constraints into the likelihood function. In this paper, we consider constrained inference for analysing GLMs with nonignorable missing covariates under linear inequality constraints on the model parameters. Specifically, constrained maximum likelihood (ML) estimation is based on the gradient projection expectation maximization approach. Further, we investigate the asymptotic null distribution of the constrained likelihood ratio test (LRT). Simulations study the empirical properties of the constrained ML estimators and LRTs, which demonstrate improved precision of these constrained techniques. An application to contaminant levels in an environmental study is also presented.     

On the bias and mean square error of the least square estimator in a regression model with two inequality constraints and multivariate t error terms

We derive and numerically evaluate the bias and mean square error of the inequality constrained least squares estimator in a model with two inequality constraints and multivariate terror terms. Our results suggest that qualitatively, the estimator properties found for models with normal errors carry over to the case of multivariate terrors.     

Estimation of regression parameters in generalized linear models for cluster correlated data with measurement error

Liang and Zeger (1986) introduced a class of estimating equations that gives consistent estimates of regression parameters and of their asymptotic variances in the class of generalized linear models for cluster correlated data. When the independent variables or covariates in such models are subject to measurement errors, the parameter estimates obtained from these estimating equations are no longer consistent. To correct for the effect of measurement errors, an estimator with smaller asymptotic bias is constructed along the lines of Stefanski (1985), assuming that the measurement error variance is either known or estimable. The asymptotic distribution of the bias-corrected estimator and a consistent estimator of its asymptotic variance are also given. The special case of a binary logistic regression model is studied in detail. For this case, methods based on conditional scores and quasilikelihood are also extended to cluster correlated data. Results of a small simulation study on the performance of the proposed estimators and associated tests of hypotheses are reported.     

Estimation in autoregressive models with surrogate data and validation data

Time-series data are often subject to measurement error, usually the result of needing to estimate the variable of interest. Generally, however, the relationship between the surrogate variables and the true variables can be rather complicated compared to the classical additive error structure usually assumed. In this article, we address the estimation of the parameters in autoregressive models in the presence of function measurement errors. We first develop a parameter estimation method with the help of validation data; this estimation method does not depend on functional form and the distribution of the measurement error. The proposed estimator is proved to be consistent. Moreover, the asymptotic representation and the asymptotic normality of the estimator are also derived, respectively. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method works well for practical situation.     

On exact computation of minimum sample size for restricted estimation of a binomial parameter

The problem of determining minimum sample size for the estimation of a binomial parameter with prescribed margin of error and confidence level is considered. It is assumed that available auxiliary information allows to restrict the parameter space to some interval whose left boundary is above zero. A range-preserving estimator resulting from the conditional maximization of the likelihood function is considered. A method for exact computation of minimum sample size controlling for the relative error is proposed. Several tables of minimum sample sizes for typical situations are also presented. The range-preserving estimator achieves the same precision and confidence level as the unrestricted maximum likelihood estimator but with a smaller sample.     

Local Estimation of the Second-Order Parameter in Extreme Value Statistics and Local Unbiased Estimation of the Tail Index

We develop and study in the framework of Pareto-type distributions a class of nonparametric kernel estimators for the conditional second order tail parameter. The estimators are obtained by local estimation of the conditional second order parameter using a moving window approach. Asymptotic normality of the proposed class of kernel estimators is proven under some suitable conditions on the kernel function and the conditional tail quantile function. The nonparametric estimators for the second order parameter are subsequently used to obtain a class of bias-corrected kernel estimators for the conditional tail index. In particular it is shown how for a given kernel function one obtains a bias-corrected kernel function, and that replacing the second order parameter in the latter with a consistent estimator does not change the limiting distribution of the bias-corrected estimator for the conditional tail index. The finite sample behavior of some specific estimators is illustrated with a simulation experiment. The developed methodology is also illustrated on fire insurance claim data.     

Estimation in Singular Linear Models with Stochastic Linear Restrictions

This article generalizes the ordinary mixed estimator (OME) in theory, and obtains the estimator of the unknown regression parameters in singular linear models with stochastic linear restrictions: singular mixed estimator (SME). We also give some properties of SME obtained in this article, and prove that it is superior to unrestricted least squared estimator (LSE) in singular linear models in the sense of the covariance matrix and generalized mean square error (GMSE). After that, we also have a discussion about the two-stage estimator of SME. The result we give in this article could be regarded as generalizations of both OME and unrestricted LSE at the same time.     

Extreme Quantile Estimation for Autoregressive Models

ABSTRACT

A quantile autoregresive model is a useful extension of classical autoregresive models as it can capture the influences of conditioning variables on the location, scale, and shape of the response distribution. However, at the extreme tails, standard quantile autoregression estimator is often unstable due to data sparsity. In this article, assuming quantile autoregresive models, we develop a new estimator for extreme conditional quantiles of time series data based on extreme value theory. We build the connection between the second-order conditions for the autoregression coefficients and for the conditional quantile functions, and establish the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimator. The finite sample performance of the proposed method is illustrated through a simulation study and the analysis of U.S. retail gasoline price.     

半参数纵向模型的惩罚二次推断函数估计

针对纵向数据半参数模型E(y|x,t)=XTβ+f(t),采用惩罚二次推断函数方法同时估计模型中的回归参数β和未知光滑函数f(t)。首先利用截断幂函数基对未知光滑函数进行基函数展开近似,然后利用惩罚样条的思想构造关于回归参数和基函数系数的惩罚二次推断函数,最小化惩罚二次推断函数便可得到回归参数和基函数系数的惩罚二次推断函数估计。理论结果显示,估计结果具有相合性和渐近正态性,通过数值方法也得到了较好的模拟结果。     

On the Sampling Performance of an Improved Stein Inequality Restricted Estimator

Using the Stein (1964) variance estimator, this paper defines a modified Stein inequality constrained estimator and derives its exact risk under quadratic loss. Numerical evaluations show that over a wide range of the parameter space, the modified Stein inequality constrained estimator has lower risk than the traditional Stein inequality constrained estimator introduced by Judge et al . (1984).     

Sieve Empirical Likelihood and Extensions of the Generalized Least Squares

The empirical likelihood cannot be used directly sometimes when an infinite dimensional parameter of interest is involved. To overcome this difficulty, the sieve empirical likelihoods are introduced in this paper. Based on the sieve empirical likelihoods, a unified procedure is developed for estimation of constrained parametric or non-parametric regression models with unspecified error distributions. It shows some interesting connections with certain extensions of the generalized least squares approach. A general asymptotic theory is provided. In the parametric regression setting it is shown that under certain regularity conditions the proposed estimators are asymptotically efficient even if the restriction functions are discontinuous. In the non-parametric regression setting the convergence rate of the maximum estimator based on the sieve empirical likelihood is given. In both settings, it is shown that the estimator is adaptive for the inhomogeneity of conditional error distributions with respect to predictor, especially for heteroscedasticity.     

Local Influence Under Parameter Constraints

Calculations of local influence curvatures and leverage have been well developed when the parameters are unrestricted. In this article, we discuss the assessment of local influence and leverage under linear equality parameter constraints with extensions to inequality constraints. Using a penalized quadratic function we express the normal curvature of local influence for arbitrary perturbation schemes and the generalized leverage matrix in interpretable forms, which depend on restricted and unrestricted components. The results are quite general and can be applied in various statistical models. In particular, we derive the normal curvature under three useful perturbation schemes for generalized linear models. Four illustrative examples are analyzed by the methodology developed in the article.     

Asymptotic properties of a conditional maximum-likelihood estimator

Inference for a scalar interest parameter in the presence of nuisance parameters is considered in terms of the conditional maximum-likelihood estimator developed by Cox and Reid (1987). Parameter orthogonality is assumed throughout. The estimator is analyzed by means of stochastic asymptotic expansions in three cases: a scalar nuisance parameter, m nuisance parameters from m independent samples, and a vector nuisance parameter. In each case, the expansion for the conditional maximum-likelihood estimator is compared with that for the usual maximum-likelihood estimator. The means and variances are also compared. In each of the cases, the bias of the conditional maximum-likelihood estimator is unaffected by the nuisance parameter to first order. This is not so for the maximum-likelihood estimator. The assumption of parameter orthogonality is crucial in attaining this result. Regardless of parametrization, the difference in the two estimators is first-order and is deterministic to this order.     

MCMC Bayesian Estimation in FIEGARCH Models

Bayesian inference for fractionally integrated exponential generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic (FIEGARCH) models using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods is described. A simulation study is presented to assess the performance of the procedure, under the presence of long-memory in the volatility. Samples from FIEGARCH processes are obtained upon considering the generalized error distribution (GED) for the innovation process. Different values for the tail-thickness parameter ν are considered covering both scenarios, innovation processes with lighter (ν > 2) and heavier (ν < 2) tails than the Gaussian distribution (ν = 2). A comparison between the performance of quasi-maximum likelihood (QML) and MCMC procedures is also discussed. An application of the MCMC procedure to estimate the parameters of a FIEGARCH model for the daily log-returns of the S&P500 U.S. stock market index is provided.     

The Almon two parameter estimator for the distributed lag models

The two parameter estimator proposed by Özkale and Kaç?ranlar [The restricted and unrestricted two parameter estimators. Comm Statist Theory Methods. 2007;36(15):2707–2725] is a general estimator which includes the ordinary least squares, the ridge and the Liu estimators as special cases. In the present paper we introduce Almon two parameter estimator based on the two parameter estimation procedure to deal with the problem of multicollinearity for the distiributed lag models. This estimator outperforms the Almon estimator according to the matrix mean square error criterion. Moreover, a numerical example and a Monte Carlo simulation experiment are presented by using different estimators of the biasing parameters.     

Confidence Intervals for Scale

This paper explains the approach to parameter estimation based on the idea of simultaneous models. Instead of using a single shape—as for example the normal distribution—a simultaneous model uses a finite number of distinct shapes F, G, etc. Such simultaneous systems are tools in gauging the finite sample behavior of estimators. And they can be applied in the design of an estimator with prescribed desirable properties. The problem considered in this paper is interval estimation for a scale parameter. We discuss among other things the computation of optimal estimators in simultaneous models and study more closely the case of protecting against heavy-tailed error distributions.     

On the sampling performance of an inequality pre-test estimator of the regression error variance under LINEX loss

We consider the estimation of the error variance of a linear regression model where prior information is available in the form of an (uncertain) inequality constraint on the coefficients. Previous studies on this and other related problems use the squared error loss in comparing estimator’s performance. Here, by adopting the asymmetric LINEX loss function, we derive and numerically evaluate the exact risks of the inequality constrained estimator and the inequality pre-test estimator which results after a preliminary test for an inequality constraint on the coefficients. The risks based on squared error loss are special cases of our results, and we draw appropriate comparisons.     

Semiparametric Estimation in Copulas with the Same Marginals

We consider semiparametric multivariate data models based on copula representation of the common distribution function. A copula is characterized by a parameter of association and marginal distribution functions. This parameter and the marginal distributions are unknown. In this article, we study the estimator of the parameter of association in copulas with the marginal distribution functions assumed as nuisance parameters restricted by the assumption that the components are identically distributed. Results of this work could be used to construct special kinds of tests of homogeneity for random vectors having dependent components.     

SUR Approach for IV Estimation of Canonical Contagion Models

Seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) method is applied to the instrumental variable (IV) estimation of the canonical contagion models. A finite sample Monte Carlo experiment shows that the resulting estimator, IV-SUR estimator, is substantially better than the existing IV estimator in terms of both bias and mean squares error under diverse circumstance of instrument, conditional heteroscedasticity, and cross-section correlation.