0
$\begingroup$

Consider n observations $ X_1, X_2,....X_n $ from $ Beta_1 ~ B(1,\theta ) $ distribution.

Obtain Bayes estimator for $ \theta $ under quadratic loss function when conjugate prior is assumed for $\theta $

My Doubts

So here prior distribution is conjugate , it means it will also be from family of beta 1 distribution so $ g(\theta ) $ = $ \frac{\theta^\alpha (1- \theta)^\beta }{\ B(\alpha, \beta )}$

So with the help of hint

$ g(\theta ) $ = $ \alpha \theta^{1-\alpha } $

Now the joint distribution is

$f^*(x,\theta ) $= $f(x|\theta ) \times g(\theta ) $ = $\theta \alpha \theta^{1-\alpha } x^{1-\theta } $

Now after this we will integrate $f^*(x,\theta ) $ to get the marginal distribution of $ x $ = $h(x) $ $h(x) $= $\int_0 ^1 \theta \alpha \theta^{1-\alpha } x^{1-\theta }$

$h(x) $= $\alpha x \int_0 ^1 \theta^{2-\alpha } x^{-\theta }$

Can anyone please tell the integration part , I am unable to figure it out ??

$\endgroup$
3
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Why do you think a $\text{Beta}(1, \beta)$ distribution is a conjugate prior for a $\text{Beta}(1, \theta)$ likelihood? $\endgroup$
    – Henry
    Oct 7, 2021 at 11:52
  • $\begingroup$ Actually I am studying bayes inference on my own , and didn't do any question on conjugate , this being the first question , I googled conjugate prior and got to know that conjugate prior means if $ f(x| \theta ) $ has one distribution than conjugate prior means prior will have the same distribution , so I thought that here it is $ B( 1, \theta ) $ so the distribution of prior must be $ B(\alpha , \beta ) $ . Please correct if I am wrong . @henry $\endgroup$
    – simran
    Oct 7, 2021 at 11:57
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ The conjugate prior and the likelihood functions often come from different families. the last line of en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… suggests that Beta likelihoods have a slightly unusual conjugate, though in your particular case you have $\alpha=1$ which would simplify things a lot, possibly down to a Gamma prior (though I am not sure) $\endgroup$
    – Henry
    Oct 7, 2021 at 12:20

1 Answer 1

3
+50
$\begingroup$

So here prior distribution is conjugate , it means it will also be from family of beta 1 distribution so

The conjugate distribution means that the prior and the posterior are the same distribution. This does not have to have to be the beta distribution.

Bayes theorem

Start with Bayes theorem formulated for continuous functions.

$$f_{posterior}(\theta \vert x) = \frac{f_{likelihood}(x\vert\theta) \cdot f_{prior}(\theta)}{f_{normalization}(x)}$$

  • likelihood: The probability(density) of the observations $x$ as function of values of $\theta$.

    You know that the distribution of the $x_i$ is a $Beta(1,\theta)$ distribution with density function $$f(x_i \vert \theta) = \theta(1-x_i)^{\theta-1}$$ and for the entire sample $$f(x_1, x_2, \dots , x_n \vert \theta) = \theta^n\left( \prod_{i=1}^n (1-x_i) \right)^{\theta-1}= \theta^n(GM^n)^{\theta-1}$$ where $GM = \prod (1-x_i)^{1/n}$ is the geometric mean of the terms $(1-x_i)$

  • normalization: The prior probability of the observations, $f_{normalization}(x)$.

    This is effectively a normalization constant. It is independent of $\theta$ and we can ignore it when we write $$f_{posterior}(\theta \vert x) \propto f_{likelihood}(x\vert\theta) \cdot f_{prior}(\theta)$$ where $\propto$ means 'proportional to'.

In this way, you can see Bayes theorem without having to worry about constants. What we need to know is how the posterior looks like in terms of a function of $\theta$ and we can worry about the constant term (independent of $\theta$) later.

Finding the conjugate distribution

So to look for the conjugate distribution you are looking for a function that remains in the same family after the multiplication with the likelihood

$$f_{posterior}(\theta \vert x) \propto \theta^n(GM^n)^{\theta-1} \cdot f_{prior}(\theta)$$

Now this is not a straightforward technique to get the conjugate distribution, but what I do is imagine a function whose form remains unchanged after multiplication with $\theta^n(GM^n)^{\theta-1}$. I let my mind pass all sorts of forms, polynomials, exponentials, powers... powers?

  • If we have a power law like $\theta^a$ and multiply with $\theta^n$ then we have again a lower law, but with a different exponent, namely: $$\theta^n\theta^a = \theta^{n+a} = \theta^{a^\prime}$$ where $a^\prime = a + n$.
  • If we have a power law like $b^{\theta-1}$ and multiply with $(GM^n)^{\theta-1}$ then we have again a power law, but a different base, namely: $$(GM^n)^{\theta-1} \cdot b^{\theta-1} = (GM^n\cdot b)^{\theta-1} = {b^\prime}^{\theta-1}$$ where $b^\prime = GM^n\cdot b$

So, the conjugate distribution needs to be of the form $$f(\theta) \propto \theta^a \cdot b^{\theta-1} = \frac{1}{b} \theta^a \cdot b^{\theta}$$

This $\theta^a \cdot b^{\theta}$ looks familiar, it is the gamma distribution.

Thus, the conjugate distribution is the gamma distribution.

The coefficients of the posterior can be expressed in terms of the coefficients of the prior, by the previously described $a^\prime = a + n$ and $b^\prime = GM^n\cdot b$. I will let you figure out the change of the constant yourselves.

Possibly it is better to use the gamma distribution not parameterized by $a$ and $b$ as above, but instead, redo the above work with $f(\theta) = \frac{\beta^\alpha}{\Gamma(\alpha)} \theta^{\alpha-1} e^{-\beta \theta} \propto \theta^{\alpha-1} e^{-\beta \theta}$

The difference is in $e^{-\beta \theta}$ and $b^{\theta}$ which is the same if you set $e^{-\beta} = b$.

$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ ... never mind ... my apologies, I misread something above. $\endgroup$
    – jbowman
    Oct 12, 2021 at 16:44

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.