Markov Chain Monte Carlo in Practice

Markov Chain Monte Carlo in Practice

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ISBN 9780412055515
Cat# C5551
 

Features

  • Offers step-by-step instructions on the application of methods
  • Applies the theory using reality-based situations and case studies
  • Covers strategies for improving MCMC with more complex models
  • Discusses MCMC-related software (BUGS and gibbsit)
  • Compares MCMC methods to traditional methods, including Cox's model and Poisson inference
  • Summary

    In a family study of breast cancer, epidemiologists in Southern California increase the power for detecting a gene-environment interaction. In Gambia, a study helps a vaccination program reduce the incidence of Hepatitis B carriage. Archaeologists in Austria place a Bronze Age site in its true temporal location on the calendar scale. And in France, researchers map a rare disease with relatively little variation.

    Each of these studies applied Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to produce more accurate and inclusive results. General state-space Markov chain theory has seen several developments that have made it both more accessible and more powerful to the general statistician. Markov Chain Monte Carlo in Practice introduces MCMC methods and their applications, providing some theoretical background as well. The authors are researchers who have made key contributions in the recent development of MCMC methodology and its application.

    Considering the broad audience, the editors emphasize practice rather than theory, keeping the technical content to a minimum. The examples range from the simplest application, Gibbs sampling, to more complex applications. The first chapter contains enough information to allow the reader to start applying MCMC in a basic way. The following chapters cover main issues, important concepts and results, techniques for implementing MCMC, improving its performance, assessing model adequacy, choosing between models, and applications and their domains.

    Markov Chain Monte Carlo in Practice is a thorough, clear introduction to the methodology and applications of this simple idea with enormous potential. It shows the importance of MCMC in real applications, such as archaeology, astronomy, biostatistics, genetics, epidemiology, and image analysis, and provides an excellent base for MCMC to be applied to other fields as well.

    Table of Contents

    INTRODUCING MARKOV CHAIN MONTE CARLO
    Introduction
    The Problem
    Markov Chain Monte Carlo
    Implementation
    Discussion
    HEPATITIS B: A CASE STUDY IN MCMC METHODS
    Introduction
    Hepatitis B Immunization
    Modelling
    Fitting a Model Using Gibbs Sampling
    Model Elaboration
    Conclusion
    MARKOV CHAIN CONCEPTS RELATED TO SAMPLING ALGORITHMS
    Markov Chains
    Rates of Convergence
    Estimation
    The Gibbs Sampler and Metropolis-Hastings Algorithm
    INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL STATE-SPACE MARKOV CHAIN THEORY
    Introduction
    Notation and Definitions
    Irreducibility, Recurrence, and Convergence
    Harris Recurrence
    Mixing Rates and Central Limit Theorems
    Regeneration
    Discussion
    FULL CONDITIONAL DISTRIBUTIONS
    Introduction
    Deriving Full Conditional Distributions
    Sampling from Full Conditional Distributions
    Discussion
    STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING MCMC
    Introduction
    Reparameterization
    Random and Adaptive Direction Sampling
    Modifying the Stationary Distribution
    Methods Based on Continuous-Time Processes
    Discussion
    IMPLEMENTING MCMC
    Introduction
    Determining the Number of Iterations
    Software and Implementation
    Output Analysis
    Generic Metropolis Algorithms
    Discussion
    INFERENCE AND MONITORING CONVERGENCE
    Difficulties in Inference from Markov Chain Simulation
    The Risk of Undiagnosed Slow Convergence
    Multiple Sequences and Overdispersed Starting Points
    Monitoring Convergence Using Simulation Output
    Output Analysis for Inference
    Output Analysis for Improving Efficiency
    MODEL DETERMINATION USING SAMPLING-BASED METHODS
    Introduction
    Classical Approaches
    The Bayesian Perspective and the Bayes Factor
    Alternative Predictive Distributions
    How to Use Predictive Distributions
    Computational Issues
    An Example
    Discussion
    HYPOTHESIS TESTING AND MODEL SELECTION
    Introduction
    Uses of Bayes Factors
    Marginal Likelihood Estimation by Importance Sampling
    Marginal Likelihood Estimation Using Maximum Likelihood
    Application: How Many Components in a Mixture?
    Discussion
    Appendix: S-PLUS Code for the Laplace-Metropolis Estimator
    MODEL CHECKING AND MODEL IMPROVEMENT
    Introduction
    Model Checking Using Posterior Predictive Simulation
    Model Improvement via Expansion
    Example: Hierarchical Mixture Modelling of Reaction Times
    STOCHASTIC SEARCH VARIABLE SELECTION
    Introduction
    A Hierarchical Bayesian Model for Variable Selection
    Searching the Posterior by Gibbs Sampling
    Extensions
    Constructing Stock Portfolios With SSVS
    Discussion
    BAYESIAN MODEL COMPARISON VIA JUMP DIFFUSIONS
    Introduction
    Model Choice
    Jump-Diffusion Sampling
    Mixture Deconvolution
    Object Recognition
    Variable Selection
    Change-Point Identification
    Conclusions
    ESTIMATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF FUNCTIONS
    Non-Bayesian Applications of MCMC
    Monte Carlo Optimization
    Monte Carlo Likelihood Analysis
    Normalizing-Constant Families
    Missing Data
    Decision Theory
    Which Sampling Distribution?
    Importance Sampling
    Discussion
    STOCHASTIC EM: METHOD AND APPLICATION
    Introduction
    The EM Algorithm
    The Stochastic EM Algorithm
    Examples
    GENERALIZED LINEAR MIXED MODELS
    Introduction
    Generalized Linear Models (GLMs)
    Bayesian Estimation of GLMs
    Gibbs Sampling for GLMs
    Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs)
    Specification of Random-Effect Distributions
    Hyperpriors and the Estimation of Hyperparameters
    Some Examples
    Discussion
    HIERARCHICAL LONGITUDINAL MODELLING
    Introduction
    Clinical Background
    Model Detail and MCMC Implementation
    Results
    Summary and Discussion
    MEDICAL MONITORING
    Introduction
    Modelling Medical Monitoring
    Computing Posterior Distributions
    Forecasting
    Model Criticism
    Illustrative Application
    Discussion
    MCMC FOR NONLINEAR HIERARCHICAL MODELS
    Introduction
    Implementing MCMC
    Comparison of Strategies
    A Case Study from Pharmacokinetics-Pharmacodynamics
    Extensions and Discussion
    BAYESIAN MAPPING OF DISEASE
    Introduction
    Hypotheses and Notation
    Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Relative Risks
    Hierarchical Bayesian Model of Relative Risks
    Empirical Bayes Estimation of Relative Risks
    Fully Bayesian Estimation of Relative Risks
    Discussion
    MCMC IN IMAGE ANALYSIS
    Introduction
    The Relevance of MCMC to Image Analysis
    Image Models at Different Levels
    Methodological Innovations in MCMC Stimulated by Imaging
    Discussion
    MEASUREMENT ERROR
    Introduction
    Conditional-Independence Modelling
    Illustrative examples
    Discussion
    GIBBS SAMPLING METHODS IN GENETICS
    Introduction
    Standard Methods in Genetics
    Gibbs Sampling Approaches
    MCMC Maximum Likelihood
    Application to a Family Study of Breast Cancer
    Conclusions
    MIXTURES OF DISTRIBUTIONS: INFERENCE AND ESTIMATION
    Introduction
    The Missing Data Structure
    Gibbs Sampling Implementation
    Convergence of the Algorithm
    Testing for Mixtures
    Infinite Mixtures and Other Extensions
    AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXAMPLE: RADIOCARBON DATING
    Introduction
    Background to Radiocarbon Dating
    Archaeological Problems and Questions
    Illustrative Examples
    Discussion
    Index

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