Bootstrap validation of the estimated parameters in mixture models used for clustering

TitreBootstrap validation of the estimated parameters in mixture models used for clustering
Type de publicationJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuteursTaushanov, Z, Berchtold, A
JournalJournal de la Société Française de Statistique
Volume160
Nombre1
Pagination114 – 129
ISSN2102-6238
Mots-cléswww
Résumé

When a mixture model is used to perform clustering, the uncertainty is related both to the choice of an optimal model (including the number of clusters) and to the estimation of the parameters. We discuss here the computation of confidence intervals using different bootstrap approaches, which either mix or separate the two kinds of uncertainty. In particular, we suggest two new approaches that rely to some degree on the model specification considered as optimal by the researcher, and that address specifically the uncertainty related to parameter estimation. These methods are especially useful for poorly separated data or complex models, where the selected solution is difficult to recreate in each bootstrap sample, and they present the advantage of reducing the well-known label-switching issue. Two simulation experiments based on the Hidden Mixture Transition Distribution model for the clustering of longitudinal data illustrate our proposed bootstrap approaches.

URLhttp://journal-sfds.fr/article/view/730