Maximum Entropy And Bayesian Methods In Applied Statistics

This collection of papers by leading researchers in their respective fields contains contributions showing the use of the maximum entropy method in many of the fields in which it finds application. In the physical, mathematical and biological sciences it is often necessary to make inferences based on insufficient data. The problem of choosing one among the many possible conclusions or models which are compatible with the data may be resolved in a variety of ways. A particularly appealing method is to choose the solution which maximizes entropy in the sense that the conclusion or model honours the observed data but implies no further assumptions not warranted by the data. The maximum entropy principle has been growing in importance and acceptance in many fields, perhaps most notably statistical physics, astronomy, geophysics, signal processing, image analysis and physical chemistry. The papers included in this volume touch on most of the current areas of research activity and application, and will be of interest to research workers in all fields in which the maximum entropy method may be applied.

This volume has its origin in the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Workshops on and Bayesian Methods in Applied Statistics", held at "Maximum-Entropy the University of Wyoming, August 5-8, 1985, and at Seattle University, August 5-8, 1986, and August 4-7, 1987. It was anticipated that the proceedings of these workshops would be combined, so most of the papers were not collected until after the seventh workshop. Because all of the papers in this volume are on foundations, it is believed that the con tents of this volume will be of lasting interest to the Bayesian community. The workshop was organized to bring together researchers from different fields to critically examine maximum-entropy and Bayesian methods in science and engineering as well as other disciplines. Some of the papers were chosen specifically to kindle interest in new areas that may offer new tools or insight to the reader or to stimulate work on pressing problems that appear to be ideally suited to the maximum-entropy or Bayesian method. A few papers presented at the workshops are not included in these proceedings, but a number of additional papers not presented at the workshop are included. In particular, we are delighted to make available Professor E. T. Jaynes' unpublished Stanford University Microwave Laboratory Report No. 421 "How Does the Brain Do Plausible Reasoning?" (dated August 1957). This is a beautiful, detailed tutorial on the Cox-Polya-Jaynes approach to Bayesian probability theory and the maximum-entropy principle.

This volume has its origin in the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Workshops on "Maximum-Entropy and Bayesian Methods in Applied Statistics", held at the University of Wyoming, August 5-8, 1985, and at Seattle University, August 5-8, 1986, and August 4-7, 1987. It was anticipated that the proceedings of these workshops would be combined, so most of the papers were not collected until after the seventh workshop. Because most of the papers in this volume are in the nature of advancing theory or solving specific problems, as opposed to status reports, it is believed that the contents of this volume will be of lasting interest to the Bayesian community. The workshop was organized to bring together researchers from different fields to critically examine maximum-entropy and Bayesian methods in science and engineering as well as other disciplines. Some of the papers were chosen specifically to kindle interest in new areas that may offer new tools or insight to the reader or to stimulate work on pressing problems that appear to be ideally suited to the maximum-entropy or Bayesian method. These workshops and their proceedings could not have been brought to their final form without the support or help of a number of people.

This volume contains the text of the twenty-five papers presented at two workshops entitled Maximum-Entropy and Bayesian Methods in Applied Statistics, which were held at the University of Wyoming from June 8 to 10, 1981, and from August 9 to 11, 1982. The workshops were organized to bring together researchers from different fields to critically examine maxi mum-entropy and Bayesian methods in science, engineering, medicine, oceanography, economics, and other disciplines. An effort was made to maintain an informal environment where ideas could be easily ~xchanged. That the workshops were at least partially successful is borne out by the fact that there have been two succeeding workshops, and the upcoming Fifth Workshop promises to be the largest of all. These workshops and their proceedings could not have been brought to their final form without the substantial help of a number of people. The support of David Hofmann, the past chairman, and Glen Rebka, Jr. , the present chairman of the Physics Department of the University of Wyoming, has been strong and essential. Glen has taken a special interest in seeing that the proceedings have received the support required for their comple tion. The financial support of the Office of University Research Funds, University of Wyoming, is gratefully acknowledged. The secretarial staff, in particular Evelyn Haskell, Janice Gasaway, and Marce Mitchum, of the University of Wyoming Physics Department has contributed a great number of hours in helping C. Ray Smith organize and direct the workshops.

Maximum entropy and Bayesian methods have fundamental, central roles in scientific inference, and, with the growing availability of computer power, are being successfully applied in an increasing number of applications in many disciplines. This volume contains selected papers presented at the Thirteenth International Workshop on Maximum Entropy and Bayesian Methods. It includes an extensive tutorial section, and a variety of contributions detailing application in the physical sciences, engineering, law, and economics. Audience: Researchers and other professionals whose work requires the application of practical statistical inference.

This volume has its origin in the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Workshops on and Bayesian Methods in Applied Statistics", held at "Maximum-Entropy the University of Wyoming, August 5-8, 1985, and at Seattle University, August 5-8, 1986, and August 4-7, 1987. It was anticipated that the proceedings of these workshops would be combined, so most of the papers were not collected until after the seventh workshop. Because all of the papers in this volume are on foundations, it is believed that the con tents of this volume will be of lasting interest to the Bayesian community. The workshop was organized to bring together researchers from different fields to critically examine maximum-entropy and Bayesian methods in science and engineering as well as other disciplines. Some of the papers were chosen specifically to kindle interest in new areas that may offer new tools or insight to the reader or to stimulate work on pressing problems that appear to be ideally suited to the maximum-entropy or Bayesian method. A few papers presented at the workshops are not included in these proceedings, but a number of additional papers not presented at the workshop are included. In particular, we are delighted to make available Professor E. T. Jaynes' unpublished Stanford University Microwave Laboratory Report No. 421 "How Does the Brain Do Plausible Reasoning?" (dated August 1957). This is a beautiful, detailed tutorial on the Cox-Polya-Jaynes approach to Bayesian probability theory and the maximum-entropy principle.