JSM 2012 Home

JSM 2012 Online Program

The views expressed here are those of the individual authors and not necessarily those of the JSM sponsors, their officers, or their staff.

Online Program Home

Abstract Details

Activity Number: 305
Type: Contributed
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 31, 2012 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
Abstract - #305795
Title: The Use of Sampling Weights in Bayesian Hierarchical Models for Small-Area Estimation
Author(s): Cici Bauer*+ and Thomas Lumley and Jon Wakefield
Companies: University of Washington and University of Auckland and University of Washington
Address: 8534 Dibble Ave NW, Seattle, WA, 98117, United States
Keywords: Small area estimation ; sampling weights ; post-stratification ; integrated nested Laplace approximation ; Bayesian Hierarchical Models
Abstract:

Empirical Bayes and Bayes hierarchical models have been used extensively for small area estimation. However, the sampling weights that are required to reflect complex surveys are rarely considered in these models. In this paper, we develop a method to incorporate the sampling weights for binary data when estimating, for example, small area proportions or predicting small area counts. We consider empirical Bayes beta-binomial models, and normal hierarchical models. The latter may include spatial random effects, with computation carried out using the integrated nested Laplace approximation, which is fast. A simulation study is presented, to demonstrate the performance of the proposed approaches, and to compare results from models with and without the sampling weights. The results show that estimation of mean squared error can be greatly reduced, when compared with more standard approaches. Bias reduction occurs through the incorporation of sampling weights, with variance reduction being achieved through hierarchical smoothing. We also analyze data taken from the Washington 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.


The address information is for the authors that have a + after their name.
Authors who are presenting talks have a * after their name.

Back to the full JSM 2012 program




2012 JSM Online Program Home

For information, contact jsm@amstat.org or phone (888) 231-3473.

If you have questions about the Continuing Education program, please contact the Education Department.