scholarly journals Accounting for Disease Model Uncertainty in Mapping Heterogeneous Traits – A Bayesian Model Averaging Approach

2010 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-253
Author(s):  
Swati Biswas ◽  
Charalampos Papachristou
Keyword(s):  
Model Uncertainty ◽  
Bayesian Model ◽  
Bayesian Model Averaging ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Model Averaging

scholarly journals Bayesian Model Averaging to Account for Model Uncertainty in Estimates of a Vaccine's Effectiveness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos R Oliveira ◽  
Eugene D Shapiro ◽  
Daniel M Weinberger
Keyword(s):  
Model Selection ◽  
Model Uncertainty ◽  
Bayesian Model ◽  
Bayesian Model Averaging ◽  
Model Averaging ◽  
Selection Methods ◽  
Final Model ◽  
Negative Case ◽  
Confounder Selection ◽  
Control Study

Vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies are often conducted after the introduction of new vaccines to ensure they provide protection in real-world settings. Although susceptible to confounding, the test-negative case-control study design is the most efficient method to assess VE post-licensure. Control of confounding is often needed during the analyses, which is most efficiently done through multivariable modeling. When a large number of potential confounders are being considered, it can be challenging to know which variables need to be included in the final model. This paper highlights the importance of considering model uncertainty by re-analyzing a Lyme VE study using several confounder selection methods. We propose an intuitive Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) framework for this task and compare the performance of BMA to that of traditional single-best-model-selection methods. We demonstrate how BMA can be advantageous in situations when there is uncertainty about model selection by systematically considering alternative models and increasing transparency.

Using Bayesian model averaging to improve ground motion predictions

2019 ◽  
Vol 220 (2) ◽  
pp. 1368-1378
Author(s):  
M Bertin ◽  
S Marin ◽  
C Millet ◽  
C Berge-Thierry
Keyword(s):  
Ground Motion ◽  
Model Uncertainty ◽  
Bayesian Model ◽  
Bayesian Model Averaging ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Hazard Analysis ◽  
Model Averaging ◽  
Likelihood Estimation ◽  
Predictive Performance ◽  
Out Of Sample

SUMMARY In low-seismicity areas such as Europe, seismic records do not cover the whole range of variable configurations required for seismic hazard analysis. Usually, a set of empirical models established in such context (the Mediterranean Basin, northeast U.S.A., Japan, etc.) is considered through a logic-tree-based selection process. This approach is mainly based on the scientist’s expertise and ignores the uncertainty in model selection. One important and potential consequence of neglecting model uncertainty is that we assign more precision to our inference than what is warranted by the data, and this leads to overly confident decisions and precision. In this paper, we investigate the Bayesian model averaging (BMA) approach, using nine ground-motion prediction equations (GMPEs) issued from several databases. The BMA method has become an important tool to deal with model uncertainty, especially in empirical settings with large number of potential models and relatively limited number of observations. Two numerical techniques, based on the Markov chain Monte Carlo method and the maximum likelihood estimation approach, for implementing BMA are presented and applied together with around 1000 records issued from the RESORCE-2013 database. In the example considered, it is shown that BMA provides both a hierarchy of GMPEs and an improved out-of-sample predictive performance.

scholarly journals A Bayesian Approach to the Simulation Argument

Universe ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Kipping
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Bayesian Approach ◽  
Infinite Number ◽  
Model Uncertainty ◽  
Bayesian Model ◽  
High Probability ◽  
Bayesian Model Averaging ◽  
Model Averaging ◽  
State Spaces ◽  
The One

The Simulation Argument posed by Bostrom suggests that we may be living inside a sophisticated computer simulation. If posthuman civilizations eventually have both the capability and desire to generate such Bostrom-like simulations, then the number of simulated realities would greatly exceed the one base reality, ostensibly indicating a high probability that we do not live in said base reality. In this work, it is argued that since the hypothesis that such simulations are technically possible remains unproven, statistical calculations need to consider not just the number of state spaces, but the intrinsic model uncertainty. This is achievable through a Bayesian treatment of the problem, which is presented here. Using Bayesian model averaging, it is shown that the probability that we are sims is in fact less than 50%, tending towards that value in the limit of an infinite number of simulations. This result is broadly indifferent as to whether one conditions upon the fact that humanity has not yet birthed such simulations, or ignore it. As argued elsewhere, it is found that if humanity does start producing such simulations, then this would radically shift the odds and make it very probably we are in fact simulated.

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