English

Nonparametric estimation of a distribution function under biased sampling and censoring

Statistics Theory 2007-08-22 v1 Statistics Theory

Abstract

This paper derives the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator (NPMLE) of a distribution function from observations which are subject to both bias and censoring. The NPMLE is obtained by a simple EM algorithm which is an extension of the algorithm suggested by Vardi (Biometrika, 1989) for size biased data. Application of the algorithm to many models is discussed and a simulation study compares the estimator's performance to that of the product-limit estimator (PLE). An example demonstrates the utility of the NPMLE to data where the PLE is inappropriate.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0708.1061,
  title  = {Nonparametric estimation of a distribution function under biased sampling and censoring},
  author = {Micha Mandel},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0708.1061},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/074921707000000175 in the IMS Lecture Notes Monograph Series (http://www.imstat.org/publications/lecnotes.htm) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org)

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