Estimation of smooth regression functions in monotone response models

We consider the estimation of smooth regression functions in a class of conditionally parametric co-variate-response models. Independent and identically distributed observations are available from the distribution of (Z,X)$(Z,X)$, where Z is a real-valued co-variate with some unknown distribution, and the response X conditional on Z   is distributed according to the density p(·,ψ(Z))$p(·,\psi (Z))$, where p(·,θ)$p(·,\theta )$ is a one-parameter exponential family. The function ψ$\psi$ is a smooth monotone function. Under this formulation, the regression function E(X|Z)$E(X|Z)$ is monotone in the co-variate Z   (and can be expressed as a one–one function of ψ$\psi$); hence the term “monotone response model”. Using a penalized least squares approach that incorporates both monotonicity and smoothness, we develop a scheme for producing smooth monotone estimates of the regression function and also the function ψ$\psi$ across this entire class of models. Point-wise asymptotic normality of this estimator is established, with the rate of convergence depending on the smoothing parameter. This enables construction of Wald-type (point-wise) as well as pivotal confidence sets for ψ$\psi$ and also the regression function. The methodology is extended to the general heteroscedastic model, and its asymptotic properties are discussed.     

Social-Cognitive Factors in Childhood Social Anxiety: A Preliminary Investigation

The present study addresses the social cognition of socially anxious children, with particular emphasis on their ability to understand others' mental states in interpersonal situations. The heterogeneous sample used in this preliminary investigation consisted of 63 primary school children in England and the USA. The English children were from a mainstream classroom of 8- to 9-year-olds, while the children from the USA ranged in age from 6 to 11 years and had been selected by school district officials for a variety of social interaction difficulties. All children completed measures of social anxiety, shy negative affect, and various social-cognitive abilities, and teacher ratings of social skills were additionally available for the USA subgroup. Results showed that feelings of social anxiety are not associated with any basic deficit in the understanding of recursive mental states which concern facts about the physical world. However, there was evidence that socially anxious children—particularly those with high levels of shy negative affect—do experience specific social-cognitive difficulties in understanding the links between emotions, intentions, and beliefs in social situations. Providing further support for this link, socially anxious children were rated by their teachers as poorer than non-anxious children only on social skills that require insight into others' mental states. Directions for further examination of this complex interplay between cognitive and emotional factors in the development of social anxiety are discussed.     

Children's Differentiation Between Ingratiation and Self-Promotion

Previous research has demonstrated that 10-year-olds can provide interpersonal explanations for certain self-presentational tactics, but detailed information about the development of their understanding of these tactics is lacking. This research investigated children's understanding of the processes involved in ingratiation (used to indicate likeability) and self-promotion (used to indicate competence). In the first study, with a sample of 60 children aged six to 11 years, children saw ingratiation as leading to more positive social evaluation than self-promotion, which was seen as having a more concrete, instrumental function. Additionally, children's differentiation between ingratiation and self-promotion was correlated with their level of peer preference, as determined through sociometric nominations, particularly for boys. In a second study, with a sample of 63 children aged six to 11 years, it was found that audience type (peer vs. adult) was related to children's understanding of the self-presentational tactics: children offered more social evaluation justifications for a self-promotion tactic when the audience was a peer rather than an adult. Results are discussed with reference to emerging insights into the links between peer relations and social cognition.     

Spatio-temporal change-point modeling

There is by now a substantial literature on spatio-temporal modeling. However, to date, there exists essentially no literature which addresses the issue of process change from a certain time. In fact, if we look at change points for purely time series data, the customary form is to propose a model involving a mean or level shift. We see little attempting to capture a change in association structure. Part of the concern is how to specify flexible ways to bridge the association across the time point and still ensure that a proper joint distribution has been defined for all of the data. Introducing a spatial component evidently adds further complication. We want to allow for a change-point reflecting change in both temporal and spatial association. In this paper we propose a constructive, flexible model formulation through additive specifications. We also demonstrate how computational concerns benefit from the availability of temporal order. Finally, we illustrate with several simulated datasets to examine the capability of the model to detect different types of structural changes.     

Theories of Governance: South Asian Perspective

The paper attempts to analyze the concepts of power and authority from South Asian perspectives, with primary emphasis on ideas and theories relating to governance models from the perspectives of Hinduism and Islam. The essence and basis of the moral state, according to ancient Indian Hindu philosophy, depends on the triangle of those actions for governance which are undertaken for universal welfare, maintaining and protecting each and everyone in the creation, and securing universal care for all. The Islamic system of governance, which is based on Quran and Sunnah, provides a broader conceptual and moral understanding and includes guidelines for rulers and the ruled. The Islamic perspective emphasizes universalism, the supremacy of Shariah (Islamic law), and the fusion or limited separation of powers. South Asian governance practices appear to reflect values of the two dominant religions of the region.     

Patterned constructions of partially ballvced incomplete block design

Starting from the incidence matrix of a BIB design, we obtain PBIB designs with two or three associate classes following certain patterns for their block structures .     

On the factorial approach providing the true index of cost of living: an interpretation of a special pair of equations

This note presents an interpretation of a special pair of the six equations which were derived in the context of providing the true index of cost of living through what has been called “the factorial approache”[See Banerjee (1961a,b) and Banerjee (1975).]     

Cook's distance in linear longitudinal models

Cook's distance (1977) has become the standard influence diagnostic tool for analyzing cross–sectional regression studies. This paper introduces an analogue of Cook's distance in fixed effects models for longitudinal data. We demonstrate that this statistic is dominated by the effects of nuisance parameters, and hence its effectiveness as an influence measure in the longitudinal data setting is limited.