Re: WinBugs Conditional Formulation

Jean wrote:
I realize that this should be probably be an easy question, but I'm
drawing a mental block. Any suggestions on the following problem
would be appreciated.

Problem: I have a large simulation program that, given a set of fixed
input conditions, provides a random response D.

The general problem is structured: P(D|a,g,h) P(g) P(h) P(a | b) P(b|
c) P( c) . G, H, C are random variables with random statistical
charateristics, e.g. mean and variance are random variables. Once C is
sampled, I know P(b|c) and P(a|b) [fixed probabilities]. One goal of
the analysis is to characterize the CDF of P(D| c) .

It seems to me that this should be relatively easy to setup in
Winbugs, but I seem to be making it more complicated than it should
be. Can I treat the parameters P(a | b) and P(b|c) as just weights?
Any suggestions on a WinBugs formulation would be very welcome.

No, they're stochastic nodes: draw the DAG and it should become clear. Of course, your proability densities have to be ones that BUGS supports (unless you want to start playing with the ones trick).

It's difficult to give more precise advice, without knowing the details of the model.

Bob

--
Bob O'Hara
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
P.O. Box 68 (Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2b)
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland

Telephone: +358-9-191 51479
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