Smoothing Spline ANOVA Models (eBook)

Nonparametric function estimation with stochastic data, otherwise

known as smoothing, has been studied by several generations of

statisticians. Assisted by the ample computing power in today's

servers, desktops, and laptops, smoothing methods have been finding

their ways into everyday data analysis by practitioners. While scores

of methods have proved successful for univariate smoothing, ones

practical in multivariate settings number far less. Smoothing spline

ANOVA models are a versatile family of smoothing methods derived

through roughness penalties, that are suitable for both univariate and

multivariate problems.

In this book, the author presents a treatise on penalty smoothing

under a unified framework. Methods are developed for (i) regression

with Gaussian and non-Gaussian responses as well as with censored lifetime data; (ii) density and conditional density estimation under a

variety of sampling schemes; and (iii) hazard rate estimation with

censored life time data and covariates. The unifying themes are the

general penalized likelihood method and the construction of

multivariate models with built-in ANOVA decompositions. Extensive

discussions are devoted to model construction, smoothing parameter

selection, computation, and asymptotic convergence.

Most of the computational and data analytical tools discussed in the

book are implemented in R, an open-source platform for statistical

computing and graphics. Suites of functions are embodied in the R

package gss, and are illustrated throughout the book using simulated

and real data examples.

This monograph will be useful as a reference work for researchers in

theoretical and applied statistics as well as for those in other

related disciplines. It can also be used as a text for graduate level

courses on the subject. Most of the materials are accessible to a

second year graduate student with a good training in calculus and

linear algebra and working knowledge in basic statistical inferences

such as linear models and maximum likelihood estimates.

Chong Gu received his Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1989, and has been on the faculty in Department of Statistics, Purdue University since 1990. At various times during his career, he has held visiting appointments at University of British Columbia, University of Michigan, and National Institute of Statistical Sciences.

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Nonparametric function estimation with stochastic data, otherwiseknown as smoothing, has been studied by several generations ofstatisticians. Assisted by the ample computing power in today'sservers, desktops, and laptops, smoothing methods have been findingtheir ways into everyday data analysis by practitioners. While scoresof methods have proved successful for univariate smoothing, onespractical in multivariate settings number far less. Smoothing splineANOVA models are a versatile family of smoothing methods derivedthrough roughness penalties, that are suitable for both univariate andmultivariate problems.In this book, the author presents a treatise on penalty smoothingunder a unified framework. Methods are developed for (i) regressionwith Gaussian and non-Gaussian responses as well as with censored lifetime data; (ii) density and conditional density estimation under avariety of sampling schemes; and (iii) hazard rate estimation withcensored life time data and covariates. The unifying themes are thegeneral penalized likelihood method and the construction ofmultivariate models with built-in ANOVA decompositions. Extensivediscussions are devoted to model construction, smoothing parameterselection, computation, and asymptotic convergence.Most of the computational and data analytical tools discussed in thebook are implemented in R, an open-source platform for statisticalcomputing and graphics. Suites of functions are embodied in the Rpackage gss, and are illustrated throughout the book using simulatedand real data examples.This monograph will be useful as a reference work for researchers intheoretical and applied statistics as well as for those in otherrelated disciplines. It can also be used as a text for graduate levelcourses on the subject. Most of the materials are accessibleto asecond year graduate student with a good training in calculus andlinear algebra and working knowledge in basic statistical inferencessuch as linear models and maximum likelihood estimates.