184,783 research outputs found

    A class of optimal tests for symmetry based on local Edgeworth approximations

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    The objective of this paper is to provide, for the problem of univariate symmetry (with respect to specified or unspecified location), a concept of optimality, and to construct tests achieving such optimality. This requires embedding symmetry into adequate families of asymmetric (local) alternatives. We construct such families by considering non-Gaussian generalizations of classical first-order Edgeworth expansions indexed by a measure of skewness such that (i) location, scale and skewness play well-separated roles (diagonality of the corresponding information matrices) and (ii) the classical tests based on the Pearson--Fisher coefficient of skewness are optimal in the vicinity of Gaussian densities.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.3150/10-BEJ298 the Bernoulli (http://isi.cbs.nl/bernoulli/) by the International Statistical Institute/Bernoulli Society (http://isi.cbs.nl/BS/bshome.htm

    Divergence from, and Convergence to, Uniformity of Probability Density Quantiles

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    The probability density quantile (pdQ) carries essential information regarding shape and tail behavior of a location-scale family. Convergence of repeated applications of the pdQ mapping to the uniform distribution is investigated and new fixed point theorems are established. The Kullback-Leibler divergences from uniformity of these pdQs are mapped and found to be ingredients in power functions of optimal tests for uniformity against alternative shapes.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1605.0018

    Harold Jeffreys's Theory of Probability Revisited

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    Published exactly seventy years ago, Jeffreys's Theory of Probability (1939) has had a unique impact on the Bayesian community and is now considered to be one of the main classics in Bayesian Statistics as well as the initiator of the objective Bayes school. In particular, its advances on the derivation of noninformative priors as well as on the scaling of Bayes factors have had a lasting impact on the field. However, the book reflects the characteristics of the time, especially in terms of mathematical rigor. In this paper we point out the fundamental aspects of this reference work, especially the thorough coverage of testing problems and the construction of both estimation and testing noninformative priors based on functional divergences. Our major aim here is to help modern readers in navigating in this difficult text and in concentrating on passages that are still relevant today.Comment: This paper commented in: [arXiv:1001.2967], [arXiv:1001.2968], [arXiv:1001.2970], [arXiv:1001.2975], [arXiv:1001.2985], [arXiv:1001.3073]. Rejoinder in [arXiv:0909.1008]. Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/09-STS284 the Statistical Science (http://www.imstat.org/sts/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

    Data-driven smooth tests when the hypothesis Is composite

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    In recent years several authors have recommended smooth tests for testing goodness of fit. However, the number of components in the smooth test statistic should be chosen well; otherwise, considerable loss of power may occur. Schwarz's selection rule provides one such good choice. Earlier results on simple null hypotheses are extended here to composite hypotheses, which tend to be of more practical interest. For general composite hypotheses, consistency of the data-driven smooth tests holds at essentially any alternative. Monte Carlo experiments on testing exponentiality and normality show that the data-driven version of Neyman's test compares well to other, even specialized, tests over a wide range of alternatives
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