Andrew Womack
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Andrew Womack has a total of 4 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Nikolay Bliznyuk
University of Florida
2 shared publications - Claudio Fuentes
Department of Statistics, Oregon State University
1 shared publication Daniel Taylor-Rodriguez
First coauthor Postdoctoral Fellow SAMSI/Duke University Research Triangle Park NC
1 shared publication- Daniel Taylor-Rodriguez
Department of Mathematics and Statistics Portland State University Portland Oregon USA
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
Intrinsic Bayesian Analysis for Occupancy Models
Occupancy models are typically used to determine the probability of a species being present at a given site while accounting for imperfect detection. The survey data underlying these models often include information on several predictors that could potentially characterize habitat suitability and species detectability. Because these variables might not all be relevant, model selection techniques are necessary in this context. In practice, model selection is performed using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), as few other alternatives are available. This paper builds an objective Bayesian variable selection framework for occupancy models through the intrinsic prior methodology. The procedure incorporates priors on the model space that account for test multiplicity and respect the polynomial hierarchy of the predictors when higher-order terms are considered. The methodology is implemented using a stochastic search algorithm that is able to thoroughly explore large spaces of occupancy models. The proposed strategy is entirely automatic and provides control of false positives without sacrificing the discovery of truly meaningful covariates. The performance of the method is evaluated and compared to AIC through a simulation study. The method is illustrated on two datasets previously studied in the literature.
Open AccessIntrinsic Bayesian Analysis for Occupancy Models
Occupancy models are typically used to determine the probability of a species being present at a given site while accounting for imperfect detection. The survey data underlying these models often include information on several predictors that could potentially characterize habitat suitability and species detectability. Because these variables might not all be relevant, model selection techniques are necessary in this context. In practice, model selection is performed using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), as few other alternatives are available. This paper builds an objective Bayesian variable selection framework for occupancy models through the intrinsic prior methodology. The procedure incorporates priors on the model space that account for test multiplicity and respect the polynomial hierarchy of the predictors when higher-order terms are considered. The methodology is implemented using a stochastic search algorithm that is able to thoroughly explore large spaces of occupancy models. The proposed strategy is entirely automatic and provides control of false positives without sacrificing the discovery of truly meaningful covariates. The performance of the method is evaluated and compared to AIC through a simulation study. The method is illustrated on two datasets previously studied in the literature.
- 2 April 2016
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics
- Vol. 25 (2) , 515-535
Bayesian Variable Selection on Model Spaces Constrained by Heredity Conditions
This article investigates Bayesian variable selection when there is a hierarchical dependence structure on the inclusion of predictors in the model. In particular, we study the type of dependence found in polynomial response surfaces of orders two and higher, whose model spaces are required to satisfy weak or strong heredity conditions. These conditions restrict the inclusion of higher-order terms depending upon the inclusion of lower-order parent terms. We develop classes of priors on the model space, investigate their theoretical and finite sample properties, and provide a Metropolis–Hastings algorithm for searching the space of models. The tools proposed allow fast and thorough exploration of model spaces that account for hierarchical polynomial structure in the predictors and provide control of the inclusion of false positives in high posterior probability models.
- 2 April 2016
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics
- Vol. 25 (2) , 515-535
Bayesian Variable Selection on Model Spaces Constrained by Heredity Conditions
This article investigates Bayesian variable selection when there is a hierarchical dependence structure on the inclusion of predictors in the model. In particular, we study the type of dependence found in polynomial response surfaces of orders two and higher, whose model spaces are required to satisfy weak or strong heredity conditions. These conditions restrict the inclusion of higher-order terms depending upon the inclusion of lower-order parent terms. We develop classes of priors on the model space, investigate their theoretical and finite sample properties, and provide a Metropolis–Hastings algorithm for searching the space of models. The tools proposed allow fast and thorough exploration of model spaces that account for hierarchical polynomial structure in the predictors and provide control of the inclusion of false positives in high posterior probability models.