Inappropriate Comparisons: The LGB Population's Missing Reference Group

ABSTRACT

Given that many professional organizations emphasize the need for comparing assessment results to appropriate reference groups in their codes of ethics, we consider this practice through an ecological perspective as it applies to the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) population. The purpose of norming and types of assessment bias is discussed with respect to LGB population, which frequently lack specific norming data. The authors discuss whether the LGB population has characteristics similar to other commonly normed for groups and explore how group-shared constructs such as minority stress and internalized homophobia may introduce bias and affect the validity of assessments. A social anxiety assessment as well as a personality disorder inventory are examined for bias as case examples explaining how these assessments may exhibit bias when used with the LGB population. Increases in validity and effects on treatment planning are discussed as benefits of providing LGB-specific norms. Risks of providing these norms, such as minimizing subgroup differences and possibly increasing the risk of discrimination are also addressed before providing clinicians with recommendations as to how they may minimize the risk of bias in their assessment process.     

Merging data from multiple sources: pretest and shrinkage perspectives

In this article, we have developed asymptotic theory for the simultaneous estimation of the k means of arbitrary populations under the common mean hypothesis and further assuming that corresponding population variances are unknown and unequal. The unrestricted estimator, the Graybill-Deal-type restricted estimator, the preliminary test, and the Stein-type shrinkage estimators are suggested. A large sample test statistic is also proposed as a pretest for testing the common mean hypothesis. Under the sequence of local alternatives and squared error loss, we have compared the asymptotic properties of the estimators by means of asymptotic distributional quadratic bias and risk. Comprehensive Monte-Carlo simulation experiments were conducted to study the relative risk performance of the estimators with reference to the unrestricted estimator in finite samples. Two real-data examples are also furnished to illustrate the application of the suggested estimation strategies.     

LAN property for an ergodic diffusion with jumps

In this paper, we consider a multidimensional ergodic diffusion with jumps driven by a Brownian motion and a Poisson random measure associated with a compound Poisson process, whose drift coefficient depends on an unknown parameter. Considering the process discretely observed at high frequency, we derive the local asymptotic normality (LAN) property.     

Analysis of Type-II hybrid censored competing risks data

Kundu and Gupta [Analysis of hybrid life-tests in presence of competing risks. Metrica. 2007;65:159–170] provided the analysis of Type-I hybrid censored competing risks data, when the lifetime distributions of the competing cause of failures follows exponential distribution. In this paper, we consider the analysis of Type-II hybrid censored competing risks data. It is assumed that latent lifetime distributions of the competing causes of failures follow independent exponential distributions with different scale parameters. It is observed that the maximum likelihood estimators of the unknown parameters do not always exist. We propose the modified estimators of the scale parameters, which coincide with the corresponding maximum likelihood estimators when they exist, and asymptotically they are equivalent. We obtain the exact distribution of the proposed estimators. Using the exact distributions of the proposed estimators, associated confidence intervals are obtained. The asymptotic and bootstrap confidence intervals of the unknown parameters are also provided. Further, Bayesian inference of some unknown parametric functions under a very flexible Beta-Gamma prior is considered. Bayes estimators and associated credible intervals of the unknown parameters are obtained using the Monte Carlo method. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations are performed to see the effectiveness of the proposed estimators and one real data set has been analysed for the illustrative purposes. It is observed that the proposed model and the method work quite well for this data set.     

On the asymptotic normality of the R-estimators of the slope parameters of simple linear regression models with associated errors

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to prove, under mild conditions, the asymptotic normality of the rank estimator of the slope parameter of a simple linear regression model with stationary associated errors. This result follows from a uniform linearity property for linear rank statistics that we establish under general conditions on the dependence of the errors. We prove also a tightness criterion for weighted empirical process constructed from associated triangular arrays. This criterion is needed for the proofs which are based on that of Koul [Behavior of robust estimators in the regression model with dependent errors. Ann Stat. 1977;5(4):681–699] and of Louhichi [Louhichi S. Weak convergence for empirical processes of associated sequences. Ann Inst Henri Poincaré Probabilités Statist. 2000;36(5):547–567].     

A class of exponential-type ratio estimators of a general parameter

This paper addresses the problem of estimating a general parameter using information on an auxiliary variable X. We have suggested a class of exponential-type ratio estimators for the parameter and its properties are studied. It is identified that the estimators due to Upadhyaya et al. [Journal of Statistical Theory and Practice (2011), 5(2), 285–302] and Yadav and Kadilar [Revista Columbiana de Estadistica, (2013), 36(1), 145–152] are members of the proposed estimator. We have also shown that the suggested estimator is more efficient than the estimators of Upadhyaya et al. (2011 Upadhyaya, L.N., Singh, H.P., Chatterjee, S., Yadav, R. (2011). Improved ratio and product exponential type estimators. J. Stat. Theo. Pract. 5 (2): 285–302.[Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]) and Yadav and Kadilar (2013 Yadav, S.K., Kadilar, C. (2013). Improved exponential type ratio estimator of population variance. Revis. Colum. de Estadist. 36(1): 145–152. [Google Scholar]). Numerical illustration is provided in support of the present study.     

A new confidence interval in measurement error model with the reliability ratio known

For the slope parameter of the measurement error model with the reliability ratio known, this article constructs a fiducial generalized confidence interval (FGCI) which is proved to have correct asymptotic coverage. Simulation results demonstrate that the FGCI often outperforms the existing intervals in terms of empirical coverage probability, average interval length, and false parameter coverage rate. Two examples are also provided to illustrate our approach.     

学前儿童性别教育的研究现状及其启示

学前儿童性别教育的有关研究表明,社会上还存在着根深蒂固的性别歧视和性别偏见,身处特定环境中的学前教育教师以及图画书、教学媒体等仍然带有较强的性别歧视和性别偏见等性别刻板印记。为此,国家需要在学前儿童性别教育研究的基础上重视学前教育阶段的性别平等教育,制定相关的政策,建立性别教育的终身教育体系,构建教师性别平等教育的培训网络平台,以现代性别教育理念为指导,基于对儿童生理差异的尊重,设计出适合学前儿童身心发展特点的性别教育课程,全面有效地实施性别平等教育。     

边限检验理论及几点讨论

检验经济变量之间长期关系的协整技术要求变量是同阶单整的,这不可避免地涉及一定程度的预检验问题,而预检验问题会增加变量间长期关系分析的不确定性。当不能确定变量的单整类型时,边限检验理论提出了一个可以直接检验一个变量和一组解释变量之间长期关系的新方法。在介绍了边限检验方法中基本的VAR模型和假设及边限检验方法中用到的重要统计量——Wald统计量和T统计量及它们各自的渐近分布形式后,说明了边限检验理论在理论和实际运用当中需要注意的几个问题,最后通过实例分析说明了边限检验理论的运用。     

中国投资者股利偏好行为的实证分析

运用超额收益法对深圳和上海证券市场的股利政策市场效应进行实证研究,探析不同类型股利的市场效应及投资者行为。结果表明,中国证券投资者在投资决策过程由于受心理因素的影响,对于不同类型的股利政策做出了不同的市场反应,并表现出一定的股利偏好行为,即证券投资者对现金股利政策,尤其稳定的现金股利政策表现出明显的喜好行为,而对于不分配股利政策却表现出了漠视效应行为。