Bayesian Statistical Modeling, A First Course: Day 3

BAYESIAN STATISTICAL MODELING: A FIRST COURSE
July 8-10, 2020 
(Wednesday-Friday)

Instructor:
Dr. Roy Levy, Arizona State University
(roy.levy@asu.edu)
 

Participants may join us ONLINE, from anywhere in the world with a good wi-fi connection -- synchronously (real time) or asynchronously (delayed/recorded).

Register: https://education.umd.edu/BAYES-2020

 

This online, three-day short course assumes no prior experience with Bayesian statistical modeling, and is intended as both a theoretical and practical introduction. An understanding of Bayesian statistical modeling will be developed by relating it to participants’ existing knowledge of traditional frequentist approaches. The philosophical underpinnings and departures from conventional frequentist interpretations of probability will be explained. This in turn will motivate the development of Bayesian statistical modeling. It is assumed that participants have expertise with frequentist approaches to statistics (e.g., hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, least-squares and likelihood estimation) in contexts up through multiple regression. Although not required, a participant’s experience in this course will be enhanced by additional prior coursework or experience with advanced statistical modeling techniques (e.g., general linear modeling, multivariate models for multiple outcomes) and/or by familiarity with the basics of probability theory (e.g., joint, marginal, and conditional distributions, independence).

To introduce Bayesian principles in familiar contexts we will begin with simple binomial and univariate normal models, then move to simple regression and multiple regression. Along the way, we will cover aspects of modeling including model construction, graphical representations of models, practical aspects of Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) estimation, evaluating hypotheses and data-model fit, model comparisons, and modeling in the presence of missing data. Although Bayesian statistical modeling has proven advantageous in many disciplines, the examples used in presentations draw primarily from social science and educational research. Examples will be accompanied by input and output from JAGS and R. Throughout the course participants will be able to practice exercises at home using these software packages. (Participants will be instructed on how to download free versions of the software prior to the course.)