Uniqueness of permuted treatment estimator distributions in the proportional hazards model

We discuss findings regarding the permutation distributions of treatment effect estimators in the proportional hazards model. For fixed sample size n, we will prove that all uncensored and untied event times yield the same permutation distribution of treatment effect estimators in the proportional hazards model. In other words this distribution is irrelevant with respect to the actual event times. We will show several uniqueness properties under different conditions. These properties are useful for small sample permutation tests and also helpful to large sample cases.     

Normality testing for a long-memory sequence using the empirical moment generating function

Moment generating functions and more generally, integral transforms for goodness-of-fit tests have been in use in the last several decades. Given a set of observations, the empirical transforms are easy to compute, being simply a sample mean, and due to uniqueness properties, these functions can be used for goodness-of-fit tests. This paper focuses on time series observations from a stationary process for which the moment generating function exists and the correlations have long-memory. For long-memory processes, the infinite sum of the correlations diverges and the realizations tend to have spurious trend like patterns where there may be none. Our aim is to use the empirical moment generating function to test the null hypothesis that the marginal distribution is Gaussian. We provide a simple proof of a central limit theorem using ideas from Gaussian subordination models (Taqqu, 1975) and derive critical regions for a graphical test of normality, namely the T₃-plot ( Ghosh, 1996). Some simulated and real data examples are used for illustration.     

Nonparametric multiple testing procedures

Assume that we have n_i independent observations from each of k independent populations. Each population has the same distribution except for a translation parameter. We are interested in specific pairwise differences of the parameters in various settings, such as treatment vs. control, change point or all pairwise differences. We propose new multiple testing procedures for the pairwise differences. The new procedures are based on ranks and they have desirable practical properties not shared by existing procedures. These include tests that satisfy the interval property. Furthermore, the test method provides an interval that serves as an estimate of the difference in the parameters of interest.     

Robust Stationarity Tests in Seasonal Time Series Processes

This article builds on the existing literature on (stationarity) tests of the null hypothesis of deterministic seasonality in a univariate time series process against the alternative of unit root behavior at some or all of the zero and seasonal frequencies. This article considers the case where, in testing for unit roots at some proper subset of the zero and seasonal frequencies, there are unattended unit roots among the remaining frequencies. Monte Carlo results are presented that demonstrate that in this case, the stationarity tests tend to distort below nominal size under the null and display an associated (often very large) loss of power under the alternative. A modification to the existing tests, based on data prefiltering, that eliminates the problem asymptotically is suggested. Monte Carlo evidence suggests that this procedure works well in practice, even at relatively small sample sizes. Applications of the robustified statistics to various seasonally unadjusted time series measures of U.K. consumers' expenditure are considered; these yield considerably more evidence of seasonal unit roots than do the existing stationarity tests.     

Testing the Null Hypothesis of Nonstationary Long Memory Against the Alternative Hypothesis of a Nonlinear Ergodic Model

Interest in the interface of nonstationarity and nonlinearity has been increasing in the econometric literature. This paper provides a formal method of testing for nonstationary long memory against the alternative of a particular form of nonlinear ergodic processes; namely, exponential smooth transition autoregressive processes. In this regard, the current paper provides a significant generalization to existing unit root tests by allowing the null hypothesis to encompass a much larger class of nonstationary processes. The asymptotic theory associated with the proposed Wald statistic is derived, and Monte Carlo simulation results confirm that the Wald statistics have reasonably correct size and good power in small samples. In an application to real interest rates and the Yen real exchange rates, we find that the tests are able to distinguish between these competing processes in most cases, supporting the long-run Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) and Fisher hypotheses. But, there are a few cases in which long memory and nonlinear ergodic processes display similar characteristics and are thus confused with each other in small samples.     

中华传统文化的"求知"理念

在中华传统文化中,“求知”被看成是塑造“君子”理想人格所必备的美德,因而深入地探讨了人愚智的成因,揭示了“求知”源于人生命的自由意志;探讨了人的知识智慧形成的先天素质和后天习染等问题,指明智慧与道德是形成理想人格的相辅相成的两个方面,坚持了知行统一观;在坚持社会进化论和民本思想的基础上,把“开智”与强国统一起来,提出了“民智者,富强之源”的重要理念。     

Gambling Control Self-efficacy as a Mediator of the Effects of Low Emotional Intelligence on Problem Gambling

This study investigated whether lower emotional intelligence would be related to less self-efficacy to control gambling and more problem gambling and whether gambling self-efficacy would mediate the relationship between emotional intelligence and problem gambling. A total of 117 participants, including 49 women and 68 men, with an average age of 39.93 (SD = 13.87), completed an emotional intelligence inventory, a gambling control self-efficacy scale, and a measure of problem gambling. Lower emotional intelligence was related to lower gambling self-efficacy and more problem gambling. Gambling control self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between emotional intelligence and problem gambling.     

A robust I-sample analysis of means type randomization test for variances for unbalanced designs

Two analysis of means type randomization tests for testing the equality of I variances for unbalanced designs are presented. Randomization techniques for testing statistical hypotheses can be used when parametric tests are inappropriate. Suppose that I independent samples have been collected. Randomization tests are based on shuffles or rearrangements of the (combined) sample. Putting each of the I samples ‘in a bowl’ forms the combined sample. Drawing samples ‘from the bowl’ forms a shuffle. Shuffles can be made with replacement (bootstrap shuffling) or without replacement (permutation shuffling). The tests that are presented offer two advantages. They are robust to non-normality and they allow the user to graphically present the results via a decision chart similar to a Shewhart control chart. A Monte Carlo study is used to verify that the permutation version of the tests exhibit excellent power when compared to other robust tests. The Monte Carlo study also identifies circumstances under which the popular Levene's test fails.     

On a data-dependent choice of the tuning parameter appearing in certain goodness-of-fit tests

We propose a data-dependent method for choosing the tuning parameter appearing in many recently developed goodness-of-fit test statistics. The new method, based on the bootstrap, is applicable to a class of distributions for which the null distribution of the test statistic is independent of unknown parameters. No data-dependent choice for this parameter exists in the literature; typically, a fixed value for the parameter is chosen which can perform well for some alternatives, but poorly for others. The performance of the new method is investigated by means of a Monte Carlo study, employing three tests for exponentiality. It is found that the Monte Carlo power of these tests, using the data-dependent choice, compares favourably to the maximum achievable power for the tests calculated over a grid of values of the tuning parameter.