Estimation and optimal designing under latent variable models for paired comparisons studies via a multiplicative algorithm

Abstract

We consider:<BR/> 1. The problem of estimating the parameters of latent variable models such as the Bradley Terry or Thurstone Model by the method of maximum likelihood, given data from a paired comparisons experiment. The parameters of these models can be taken to be weights which are positive and sum to one;<BR/> 2. The problem of determining approximate locally optimal designs for good estimation of these parameters; i.e of determining optimal design weights which are also positive and sum to one