Date of Award

Summer 8-11-2017

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science - Statistics

Department

Mathematics and Statistics

First Advisor

Dr. Robert K. Henderson

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Examination and Comparison of the Performance of Common Non-Parametric and Robust Regression Models

By

Gregory Frank Malek

Stephen F. Austin State University, Masters in Statistics Program,

Nacogdoches, Texas, U.S.A.

g_m_2002@live.com

This work investigated common alternatives to the least-squares regression method in the presence of non-normally distributed errors. An initial literature review identified a variety of alternative methods, including Theil Regression, Wilcoxon Regression, Iteratively Re-Weighted Least Squares, Bounded-Influence Regression, and Bootstrapping methods. These methods were evaluated using a simple simulated example data set, as well as various real data sets, including math proficiency data, Belgian telephone call data, and faculty salaries at the University of South Florida.

In addition, simulations were conducted of common error scenarios to test and evaluate each method. These simulations involved simple regression models in which the error terms were contaminated normal distributions with different amounts and magnitudes of contamination. The models were evaluated based on confidence interval coverage of regression coefficients, as well as bias and confidence interval width.

Finally, results were summarized, conclusions drawn, and suggestions for future applications of the results have been provided.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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