Department of Statistics Seminar
North Carolina State University

presents

Dr. Jean Opsomer

Iowa State University

"Two Applications of Nonparametric Regression in Survey Estimation"

ABSTRACT

Nonparametric regression methods have traditionally been mostly ignored by survey statisticians. We describe two survey estimation areas in which nonparametric techniques can readily be incorporated and improve the precision of estimators. Penalized splines regression, a new and easy-to-use nonparametric method, is used in both cases. In the first area, we will show how model-assisted estimation can be extended from the commonly used linear and ratio models to incorporate nonparametric and semiparametric models. The applicability of the estimator is illustrated using an example from a forest health monitoring survey in Utah. For the second area, we propose a new approach for performing small area estimation, in which the mean function is nonparametrically specified. This is illustrated using data from a ecological health survey of lakes in the Northeastern states of the USA.

Friday, April, 09, 2004

3:35 - 4:35 pm

206 Cox Hall

Refreshments will be served on the second floor of Dabney Hall (left of Room 222) at 3:00 pm.