On the choice of the prior distribution in the bayesian analysis for the evaluation of mini roundabouts as a road safety measure

An integral art of the Bayesian approach which is not present in the classical approach is the prior distribution. Different researchers may have different level of prior knowledge regarding the parameter of interest before seeing the data. Sometimes different prior distributions can result in diffe...

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Main Author: Kamarulzaman Ibrahim
Format: Article
Published: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 1996
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3714/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3714/
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recordtype eprints
spelling ukm-37142012-04-30T07:45:48Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3714/ On the choice of the prior distribution in the bayesian analysis for the evaluation of mini roundabouts as a road safety measure Kamarulzaman Ibrahim, An integral art of the Bayesian approach which is not present in the classical approach is the prior distribution. Different researchers may have different level of prior knowledge regarding the parameter of interest before seeing the data. Sometimes different prior distributions can result in different decisions, as such investigations have to be careful in making the choice of the prior distribution. In this paper, we compare results from the Bayesian analyses based on three possible choices of the prior distributions, which are uniform prior, lognormal prior and an improper prior, in the evaluation of the effectiveness of mini-roundabouts. Data from five before and after studies into the effect of mini-roundabouts when replacing priority junctions are used. The effects of the different prior distributions are distinguishable from the analysis of an anamolous 'desk-drawer' study. The uniform and improper prior pull the estimated treatment effect away from one more than the lognormal prior. The results based on lognormal prior depict a less worst scenario of the ineffectiveness of mini-roundabouts and this may correspond to the deficiency in engineering design at only a few sites. Consequently, it is more appropriate to use the lognormal prior in the analysis of mini-roundabouts as a road safety measure. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 1996-12 Article PeerReviewed Kamarulzaman Ibrahim, (1996) On the choice of the prior distribution in the bayesian analysis for the evaluation of mini roundabouts as a road safety measure. Sains Malaysiana, 25 (4). pp. 11-18. ISSN 0126-6039 http://www.ukm.my/jsm/english_journals/vol25num4_1996/vol25num4_96page11-18.html
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description An integral art of the Bayesian approach which is not present in the classical approach is the prior distribution. Different researchers may have different level of prior knowledge regarding the parameter of interest before seeing the data. Sometimes different prior distributions can result in different decisions, as such investigations have to be careful in making the choice of the prior distribution. In this paper, we compare results from the Bayesian analyses based on three possible choices of the prior distributions, which are uniform prior, lognormal prior and an improper prior, in the evaluation of the effectiveness of mini-roundabouts. Data from five before and after studies into the effect of mini-roundabouts when replacing priority junctions are used. The effects of the different prior distributions are distinguishable from the analysis of an anamolous 'desk-drawer' study. The uniform and improper prior pull the estimated treatment effect away from one more than the lognormal prior. The results based on lognormal prior depict a less worst scenario of the ineffectiveness of mini-roundabouts and this may correspond to the deficiency in engineering design at only a few sites. Consequently, it is more appropriate to use the lognormal prior in the analysis of mini-roundabouts as a road safety measure.
format Article
author Kamarulzaman Ibrahim,
spellingShingle Kamarulzaman Ibrahim,
On the choice of the prior distribution in the bayesian analysis for the evaluation of mini roundabouts as a road safety measure
author_facet Kamarulzaman Ibrahim,
author_sort Kamarulzaman Ibrahim,
title On the choice of the prior distribution in the bayesian analysis for the evaluation of mini roundabouts as a road safety measure
title_short On the choice of the prior distribution in the bayesian analysis for the evaluation of mini roundabouts as a road safety measure
title_full On the choice of the prior distribution in the bayesian analysis for the evaluation of mini roundabouts as a road safety measure
title_fullStr On the choice of the prior distribution in the bayesian analysis for the evaluation of mini roundabouts as a road safety measure
title_full_unstemmed On the choice of the prior distribution in the bayesian analysis for the evaluation of mini roundabouts as a road safety measure
title_sort on the choice of the prior distribution in the bayesian analysis for the evaluation of mini roundabouts as a road safety measure
publisher Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
publishDate 1996
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3714/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3714/
first_indexed 2023-09-18T19:39:34Z
last_indexed 2023-09-18T19:39:34Z
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