Bayes

The beta distribution

Posted on March 31, 2020May 4, 2021 by LV

Definition Using the mean Using ranges for the prior Informative vs. uninformative priors Mean, median, variance Highest Density Interval References Addenda Definition The Beta distribution represents a probability distribution of probabilities. It is the conjugate prior of the binomial distribution (if the prior and the posterior distribution are in the same family, the prior and posterior…

Likelihood and Probability

Posted on March 17, 2020May 3, 2021 by LV

The difference between probability and likelihood is central, among others, to understanding MLE. Randy Gallistel has posted a succinct treatment of this topic: The distinction between probability and likelihood is fundamentally important: Probability attaches to possible results; likelihood attaches to hypotheses [my emphasis]. Explaining this distinction is the purpose of this first column. Possible results…