Aster Models and Envelope Models

• Activity Number: 660
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 13, 2015 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Computing
• Author(s): Daniel Eck*
• Keywords: aster models ; envelope models ; life history analysis ; variance reduction ; Darwinian fitness

Abstract

Precise estimation of expected Darwinian fitness is a central component of life history analysis. Our methods provide precise estimation by incorporating general envelope model methodology into the aster modeling framework. The aster model serves the role as a defensible statistical model for distributions of Darwinian fitness. Envelope methodology reduces asymptotic variability by the supposition of a link between unknown parameters of interest and the asymptotic covariance matrices of their estimators. It is shown both theoretically and in applications that incorporation of the general envelope model methodology reduces asymptotic variability. Our methods are tried on two data sets, one real and one simulated. Variance reduction is obtained in both data analyses.