On asymptotic non-normality of null distributions of mrpp statistics

Severe departures from normality occur frequently for null distributions of statistics associated with applications of mulLi-response permutation procedures (MRPP) for either small or large finite populations. This paper describes the commonly encountered situation associated with asymptotic non-normality for null distributions of MRPP statistics which does not depend on the underlying multivariate distribution. In addition, this paper establishes the existence of a non-degenerate underlying distribution for which the null distributions of MRPP statistics are asymptotically non-normal for essentially all size structure configurations. It is known that MRPP statistics are symmetric versions of a broader class of statistics, most of which are asymmetric. Because of the non-normality associated with null distributions of MRPP statistics, this paper includes necessary results for inferences based on the exact first three moments of anv statistic in this broader class (analogous to existing results for MRPP statistics).     

Computation of finite population parameters and approximate probability values for multi-response randomized block permutation procedures (mrbp)

An algorithm is presented for computing the finite population parameters and the approximate probability values associated with a recently-developed class of statistical inference techniques termed multi-response randomized block permutation procedures (MRBP).     

Block and Basu bivariate lifetime distribution in the presence of cure fraction

This paper presents estimates for the parameters included in the Block and Basu bivariate lifetime distributions in the presence of covariates and cure fraction, applied to analyze survival data when some individuals may never experience the event of interest and two lifetimes are associated with each unit. A Bayesian procedure is used to get point and confidence intervals for the unknown parameters. Posterior summaries of interest are obtained using standard Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods in rjags package for R software. An illustration of the proposed methodology is given for a Diabetic Retinopathy Study data set.     

Does the sense of the geographic proximity of a requester influence donation? Three evaluations in field studies

It has been reported that familiarity or incidental similarities with a stranger influenced an individual’s behavior. However, the effect of the sense of geographical proximity believing that someone comes from the same area that somebody has never been examined. Three field experiments examined this effect on donations to humanitarian organizations. In the first study, participants were asked by a confederate to donate food products to a humanitarian organization. In Study 2, participants were asked by confederates to donate money for children. In Study 3, donation boxes were displayed in bakeries with a message that invited customers to donate money for children. In all the studies, participants were led to believe that they would be helping people in need or people who live in their national or local geographic area. Results showed that donations were higher in the geographical proximity condition. This “neighborhood effect” was discussed.     

The behavioural wedge

When nations fail to agree, can individual citizens make a difference? The third of our post-Copenhagen features is by Jonathan Gilligan, Thomas Dietz, Gerald T. Gardner, Paul C. Stern , and Michael P. Vandenbergh . They look at the effects that voluntary actions by individuals can have, and at the policies that can best encourage such actions.     

Locally optimal designs for the simple death process

We demonstrate the existence and uniqueness of optimal observation schedules for discrete observation of the simple death process. Optimality is framed in the sense of observing the process at times that maximise the Fisher information for the death rate. We examine the relationship of our designs with those obtained by other authors for the simple birth process. A number of interesting properties are uncovered. Practical considerations in the application of these designs in an experimental setting are investigated, and we examine the performance of some approximately optimal designs that are usually simpler to implement. We will show that our optimal designs are highly robust to mis-specification of the death rate.     

Editorial

Drawing on texts written by young people aged 14–17 years in a school context in response to an invitation to write a page describing themselves and their vision of Ireland and to use the reverse side creatively for drawings, poems or songs, this article illustrates the methodological difficulties of exploring globalization and individualization in such texts. The indicators of globalization were global entertainment and consumer culture, global technology, references to international travel, and global concerns. The indicators of individualization were the absence of references to structural location, or the presence of references to choices, hopes or plans and related images. There were insurmountable methodological difficulties in differentiating between individualization in these terms and stereotypical ways of ‘doing boy/girl’. Hence, the typology that was created focussed on the global content of the main texts and back pages and their gendered content.     

Statistics in Latin America

Statistics is a relatively new discipline in Latin America. At present only sparse information is available about the state of the statistical profession in Latin America. We present and summarize the available information about the job market; training, education, and research; professional societies and their activities; and so forth. We also share our hopes, concerns, and suggestions for the future.