Admission requirements
Basic statistics and a good notion of regression models.
Description
The aims are to introduce the Bayesian philosophy and terminology and to contrast it with the
frequentist approach. The course provides a review of the most important numerical techniques, which are useful to arrive at a Bayesian solution. Also, students are taught how to use Bayesian software to model complex data. The Bayesian approach is introduced and contrasted to the frequentist approach both from an historical perspective as from a methodological viewpoint. The Bayesian interpretation of probability is treated, including subjective, conjugate and non-informative prior distributions. Bayesian concepts like posterior mean, median, credible interval are introduced and illustrated using e.g. 1stBayes. Modern Bayesian Data analysis requires highly sophisticated and very computer intensive methods. Two Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques: Gibbs and Metropolis-Hastings sampling with its adaptive variants will be covered. The background of these approaches will be explained and exemplified using a variety of examples. Convergence diagnostics and convergence acceleration are important for the practical feasibility of the MCMC approaches and they will be treated in detail. The important class of hierarchical models (including repeated measurements studies, multi-level models, cluster-randomized trials, etc.) will be reviewed in a Bayesian context. A variety of medical, epidemiological and clinical trials studies will be used for illustrative purposes.
Course objectives
After the course you can tell about the key issues in Bayesian data analysis and are able to set up and analyze some basic Bayesian models.
Mode of Instruction
This course is a combination of lectures, problem sessions and computer practicals using FirstBayes, R, and WinBugs/OpenBugs.
Time Table
For the course days, course location and class hours check the Time Table 2014-15 under the tab “Masters Programme” at http://www.math.leidenuniv.nl/statscience
Assessment method
Written exam (2/3) and assignments (1/3)
Date information about the exam and resit can be found in the Time Table 2014-15 pdf document under the tab “Masters Programme” at http://www.math.leidenuniv.nl/statscience. The exams take place in the Snellius building, the room will be announced on the electronic billboard, to be found at the opposite of the entrance, the content can also be viewed online at:“http://info.liacs.nl/math/”:http://info.liacs.nl/math/
If the exam does not take place in the Snellius building, then an announcement will be sent via blackboard.
Reading list
Compulsory:
Lesaffre, E. & Lawson, A. B. Bayesian Biostatistics. Statistics in Practice.Wiley, New York, 2012.
Optional:Gelman, A., Carlin, J.B., Stern, H.S. and Rubin, D.B. Bayesian Data Analysis, Chapman & Hall (2nd edition), 2003 Press, S.J. Subjective and Objective Bayesian Statistics: Principles, Models and Applications, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2003
Spiegelhalter, D.J., Abrams, K.R. and Myles, J.P. Bayesian Approaches to Clinical Trials and HealthCare Evaluation, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2004
Registration
Enroll in Blackboard for the course materials and course updates.
To be able to obtain a grade and the ECTS for the course, sign up for the (re-)exam in uSis ten calendar days before the actual (re-)exam will take place. Note, the student is expected to participate actively in all activities of the program and therefore uses and registers for the first exam opportunity.
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Prospective students website for information on how to apply.
Contact information
cajo [dot] terbraak [at] wur [dot] nl
Remarks
- This is a compulsory course in the Master’s programme of the specialisation Statistical Science for the Life & Behavioural sciences.