Assessing additivity in nonparametric models —A kernel‐based method

In this article, we address the testing problem for additivity in nonparametric regression models. We develop a kernel‐based consistent test of a hypothesis of additivity in nonparametric regression, and establish its asymptotic distribution under a sequence of local alternatives. Compared to other existing kernel‐based tests, the proposed test is shown to effectively ameliorate the influence from estimation bias of the additive component of the nonparametric regression, and hence increase its efficiency. Most importantly, it avoids the tuning difficulties by using estimation‐based optimal criteria, while there is no direct tuning strategy for other existing kernel‐based testing methods. We discuss the usage of the new test and give numerical examples to demonstrate the practical performance of the test. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 39: 632–655; 2011. © 2011 Statistical Society of Canada     

Bootstrap LR tests of stationarity,common trends and cointegration

This paper considers the likelihood ratio (LR) tests of stationarity, common trends and cointegration for multivariate time series. As the distribution of these tests is not known, a bootstrap version is proposed via a state- space representation. The bootstrap samples are obtained from the Kalman filter innovations under the null hypothesis. Monte Carlo simulations for the Gaussian univariate random walk plus noise model show that the bootstrap LR test achieves higher power for medium-sized deviations from the null hypothesis than a locally optimal and one-sided Lagrange Multiplier (LM) test that has a known asymptotic distribution. The power gains of the bootstrap LR test are significantly larger for testing the hypothesis of common trends and cointegration in multivariate time series, as the alternative asymptotic procedure – obtained as an extension of the LM test of stationarity – does not possess properties of optimality. Finally, it is shown that the (pseudo-)LR tests maintain good size and power properties also for the non-Gaussian series. An empirical illustration is provided.     

Within groups analysis of covariance: multiple comparisons at specified design points using a robust measure location when there is curvature

Consider the situation where measurements are taken at two different times and let M_j(x) be some conditional robust measure of location associated with the random variable Y at time j, given that some covariate X=x. The goal is to test H₀: M₁(x)=M₂(x) for each x∈ x₁,?…?, x_K such that the probability of one or more Type I errors is less than α, where x₁,?…?, x_K are K specified values of the covariate. The paper reports simulation results comparing two methods aimed at accomplishing this goal without specifying some parametric form for the regression line. The first method is based on a simple modification of the method in Wilcox [Introduction to robust estimation and hypothesis testing. 3rd ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 2012, Section 11.11.1]. The main result here is that the second method, which has never been studied, can have higher power, sometimes substantially so. Data from the Well Elderly 2 study, which motivated this paper, are used to illustrate that the alternative approach can make a practical difference. Here, the estimate of M_j(x) is based in part on either a 20% trimmed mean or the Harrell–Davis quantile estimator, but in principle the more successful method can be used with any robust location estimator.     

Bootstrapping Realized Volatility

We propose bootstrap methods for a general class of nonlinear transformations of realized volatility which includes the raw version of realized volatility and its logarithmic transformation as special cases. We consider the independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) bootstrap and the wild bootstrap (WB), and prove their first‐order asymptotic validity under general assumptions on the log‐price process that allow for drift and leverage effects. We derive Edgeworth expansions in a simpler model that rules out these effects. The i.i.d. bootstrap provides a second‐order asymptotic refinement when volatility is constant, but not otherwise. The WB yields a second‐order asymptotic refinement under stochastic volatility provided we choose the external random variable used to construct the WB data appropriately. None of these methods provides third‐order asymptotic refinements. Both methods improve upon the first‐order asymptotic theory in finite samples.     

Polynomial Spline Estimation for a Generalized Additive Coefficient Model

Abstract.  We study a semiparametric generalized additive coefficient model (GACM), in which linear predictors in the conventional generalized linear models are generalized to unknown functions depending on certain covariates, and approximate the non-parametric functions by using polynomial spline. The asymptotic expansion with optimal rates of convergence for the estimators of the non-parametric part is established. Semiparametric generalized likelihood ratio test is also proposed to check if a non-parametric coefficient can be simplified as a parametric one. A conditional bootstrap version is suggested to approximate the distribution of the test under the null hypothesis. Extensive Monte Carlo simulation studies are conducted to examine the finite sample performance of the proposed methods. We further apply the proposed model and methods to a data set from a human visceral Leishmaniasis study conducted in Brazil from 1994 to 1997. Numerical results outperform the traditional generalized linear model and the proposed GACM is preferable.     

On the Validity of the Bootstrap in Non‐Parametric Functional Regression

Abstract. We consider the functional non‐parametric regression model Y= r( χ )+?, where the response Y is univariate, χ is a functional covariate (i.e. valued in some infinite‐dimensional space), and the error ? satisfies E(? | χ ) = 0. For this model, the pointwise asymptotic normality of a kernel estimator of r (·) has been proved in the literature. To use this result for building pointwise confidence intervals for r (·), the asymptotic variance and bias of need to be estimated. However, the functional covariate setting makes this task very hard. To circumvent the estimation of these quantities, we propose to use a bootstrap procedure to approximate the distribution of . Both a naive and a wild bootstrap procedure are studied, and their asymptotic validity is proved. The obtained consistency results are discussed from a practical point of view via a simulation study. Finally, the wild bootstrap procedure is applied to a food industry quality problem to compute pointwise confidence intervals.     

On entropy goodness-of-fit test based on integrated distribution function

In this study, we consider an entropy-type goodness-of-fit (GOF) test based on integrated distribution functions. We first construct the test for the simple vs. simple hypothesis and then extend it to the composite hypothesis case. It is shown that under regularity conditions, the null limiting distribution of the proposed test is a function of a Brownian bridge. A bootstrap method is also considered and is shown to be weakly consistent. A simulation study and real data analysis are conducted for illustration.     

Bootstrap adjustments of signed scoring rule root statistics

Scoring rules give rise to methods for statistical inference and are useful tools to achieve robustness or reduce computations. Scoring rule inference is generally performed through first-order approximations to the distribution of the scoring rule estimator or of the ratio-type statistic. In order to improve the accuracy of first-order methods even in simple models, we propose bootstrap adjustments of signed scoring rule root statistics for a scalar parameter of interest in presence of nuisance parameters. The method relies on the parametric bootstrap approach that avoids onerous calculations specific of analytical adjustments. Numerical examples illustrate the accuracy of the proposed method.     

Comparisons of several Pareto distributions based on record values

In order to avoid wrong conclusions in any further analysis, it is of importance to conduct a formal comparison for characteristic quantities of the distributions. These characteristic quantities we are familiar with include mean, quantity and reliability function, and so on. In this paper, we consider two tests aiming at the comparisons for function of parameters in Pareto distribution based on record values. They are generalized p-value-based test and parametric bootstrap-based test, respectively. The resulting procedures are easy to compute and are applicable to small samples. A simulation study is conducted to investigate and compare the performance of the proposed tests. A phenomenon we note is that generalized p-value-based test almost uniformly outperforms the parametric bootstrap-based test.