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Coherent psychometric modeling with Bayesian nonparametrics

Walker, Stephen G., Karabatsos, George (2009) Coherent psychometric modeling with Bayesian nonparametrics. British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, 62 . pp. 1-20. ISSN 0007-1102. (doi:10.1348/000711007X246237) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:23912)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1348/000711007X246237

Abstract

In this paper we argue that model selection, as commonly practised in psychometrics, violates certain principles of coherence. On the other hand, we show that Bayesian nonparametrics provides a coherent basis for model selection, through the use of a 'nonparametric' prior distribution that has a large support on the space of sampling distributions. We illustrate model selection under the Bayesian nonparametric approach, through the analysis of real questionnaire data. Also, we present ways to use the Bayesian nonparametric framework to define very flexible psychometric models, through the specification of a nonparametric prior distribution that supports all distribution functions for the inverse link, including the standard logistic distribution functions. The Bayesian nonparametric approach provides a coherent method for model selection that can be applied to any statistical model, including psychometric models. Moreover, under a 'non-informative' choice of nonparametric prior, the Bayesian nonparametric approach is easy to apply, and selects the model that maximizes the log likelihood. Thus, under this choice of prior, the approach can be extended to non-Bayesian settings where the parameters of the competing models are estimated by likelihood maximization, and it can be used with any psychometric software package that routinely reports the model log likelihood.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1348/000711007X246237
Uncontrolled keywords: MAXIMUM-LIKELIHOOD; EM ALGORITHM; DISTRIBUTIONS; INFERENCE
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA276 Mathematical statistics
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science
Depositing User: Stephen Walker
Date Deposited: 29 Jun 2011 13:37 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:02 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/23912 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Walker, Stephen G..

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