Flexible Bayesian Regression Modelling

Flexible Bayesian Regression Modeling is a step-by-step guide to the Bayesian revolution in regression modeling, for use in advanced econometric and statistical analysis where datasets are characterized by complexity, multiplicity, and large sample sizes, necessitating the need for considerable flexibility in modeling techniques. It reviews three forms of flexibility: methods which provide flexibility in their error distribution; methods which model non-central parts of the distribution (such as quantile regression); and finally models that allow the mean function to be flexible (such as spline models). Each chapter discusses the key aspects of fitting a regression model. R programs accompany the methods. This book is particularly relevant to non-specialist practitioners with intermediate mathematical training seeking to apply Bayesian approaches in economics, biology, finance, engineering and medicine. Introduces powerful new nonparametric Bayesian regression techniques to classically trained practitioners Focuses on approaches offering both superior power and methodological flexibility Supplemented with instructive and relevant R programs within the text Covers linear regression, nonlinear regression and quantile regression techniques Provides diverse disciplinary case studies for correlation and optimization problems drawn from Bayesian analysis ‘in the wild’

INLA stands for Integrated Nested Laplace Approximations, which is a new method for fitting a broad class of Bayesian regression models. No samples of the posterior marginal distributions need to be drawn using INLA, so it is a computationally convenient alternative to Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), the standard tool for Bayesian inference. Bayesian Regression Modeling with INLA covers a wide range of modern regression models and focuses on the INLA technique for building Bayesian models using real-world data and assessing their validity. A key theme throughout the book is that it makes sense to demonstrate the interplay of theory and practice with reproducible studies. Complete R commands are provided for each example, and a supporting website holds all of the data described in the book. An R package including the data and additional functions in the book is available to download. The book is aimed at readers who have a basic knowledge of statistical theory and Bayesian methodology. It gets readers up to date on the latest in Bayesian inference using INLA and prepares them for sophisticated, real-world work. Xiaofeng Wang is Professor of Medicine and Biostatistics at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and a Full Staff in the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences at Cleveland Clinic. Yu Ryan Yue is Associate Professor of Statistics in the Paul H. Chook Department of Information Systems and Statistics at Baruch College, The City University of New York. Julian J. Faraway is Professor of Statistics in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Bath.

This series of books collects a diverse array of work that provides the reader with theoretical and applied information on data analysis methods, models, and techniques, along with appropriate applications. Volume 1 begins with an introductory chapter by Gilbert Saporta, a leading expert in the field, who summarizes the developments in data analysis over the last 50 years. The book is then divided into three parts: Part 1 presents clustering and regression cases; Part 2 examines grouping and decomposition, GARCH and threshold models, structural equations, and SME modeling; and Part 3 presents symbolic data analysis, time series and multiple choice models, modeling in demography, and data mining.

Volume 40B of Advances in Econometrics examines innovations in stochastic frontier analysis, nonparametric and semiparametric modeling and estimation, A/B experiments, big-data analysis, and quantile regression.

Bei der Regressionsanalyse von Datenmaterial erhält man leider selten lineare oder andere einfache Zusammenhänge (parametrische Modelle). Dieses Buch hilft Ihnen, auch komplexere, nichtparametrische Modelle zu verstehen und zu beherrschen. Stärken und Schwächen jedes einzelnen Modells werden durch die Anwendung auf Standarddatensätze demonstriert. Verbreitete nichtparametrische Modelle werden mit Hilfe von Bayes-Verfahren in einen kohärenten wahrscheinlichkeitstheoretischen Zusammenhang gebracht.

Unleash the power and flexibility of the Bayesian framework About This Book Simplify the Bayes process for solving complex statistical problems using Python; Tutorial guide that will take the you through the journey of Bayesian analysis with the help of sample problems and practice exercises; Learn how and when to use Bayesian analysis in your applications with this guide. Who This Book Is For Students, researchers and data scientists who wish to learn Bayesian data analysis with Python and implement probabilistic models in their day to day projects. Programming experience with Python is essential. No previous statistical knowledge is assumed. What You Will Learn Understand the essentials Bayesian concepts from a practical point of view Learn how to build probabilistic models using the Python library PyMC3 Acquire the skills to sanity-check your models and modify them if necessary Add structure to your models and get the advantages of hierarchical models Find out how different models can be used to answer different data analysis questions When in doubt, learn to choose between alternative models. Predict continuous target outcomes using regression analysis or assign classes using logistic and softmax regression. Learn how to think probabilistically and unleash the power and flexibility of the Bayesian framework In Detail The purpose of this book is to teach the main concepts of Bayesian data analysis. We will learn how to effectively use PyMC3, a Python library for probabilistic programming, to perform Bayesian parameter estimation, to check models and validate them. This book begins presenting the key concepts of the Bayesian framework and the main advantages of this approach from a practical point of view. Moving on, we will explore the power and flexibility of generalized linear models and how to adapt them to a wide array of problems, including regression and classification. We will also look into mixture models and clustering data, and we will finish with advanced topics like non-parametrics models and Gaussian processes. With the help of Python and PyMC3 you will learn to implement, check and expand Bayesian models to solve data analysis problems. Style and approach Bayes algorithms are widely used in statistics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data mining. This will be a practical guide allowing the readers to use Bayesian methods for statistical modelling and analysis using Python.

Modelling Spatial and Spatial-Temporal Data: A Bayesian Approach is aimed at statisticians and quantitative social, economic and public health students and researchers who work with spatial and spatial-temporal data. It assumes a grounding in statistical theory up to the standard linear regression model. The book compares both hierarchical and spatial econometric modelling, providing both a reference and a teaching text with exercises in each chapter. The book provides a fully Bayesian, self-contained, treatment of the underlying statistical theory, with chapters dedicated to substantive applications. The book includes WinBUGS code and R code and all datasets are available online. Part I covers fundamental issues arising when modelling spatial and spatial-temporal data. Part II focuses on modelling cross-sectional spatial data and begins by describing exploratory methods that help guide the modelling process. There are then two theoretical chapters on Bayesian models and a chapter of applications. Two chapters follow on spatial econometric modelling, one describing different models, the other substantive applications. Part III discusses modelling spatial-temporal data, first introducing models for time series data. Exploratory methods for detecting different types of space-time interaction are presented followed by two chapters on the theory of space-time separable (without space-time interaction) and inseparable (with space-time interaction) models. An applications chapter includes: the evaluation of a policy intervention; analysing the temporal dynamics of crime hotspots; chronic disease surveillance; and testing for evidence of spatial spillovers in the spread of an infectious disease. A final chapter suggests some future directions and challenges.

Offering a detailed and careful explanation of the methods, this book delineates Bayesian non parametric techniques to be used in health care and the statistical evaluation of diagnostic tests to determine accuracy before mass use in practice. Unique to these methods is the incorporation of prior information and elimination of subjective beliefs and asymptotic results. It includes examples such as ROC curves and ROC surfaces estimation, modeling of multivariate diagnostic data, absence of a perfect test, ROC regression methodology, and sample size determination.