On a data-dependent choice of the tuning parameter appearing in certain goodness-of-fit tests

Abstract

We propose a data-dependent method for choosing the tuning parameter appearing in many recently developed goodness-of-fit test statistics. The new method, based on the bootstrap, is applicable to a class of distributions for which the null distribution of the test statistic is independent of unknown parameters. No data-dependent choice for this parameter exists in the literature; typically, a fixed value for the parameter is chosen which can perform well for some alternatives, but poorly for others. The performance of the new method is investigated by means of a Monte Carlo study, employing three tests for exponentiality. It is found that the Monte Carlo power of these tests, using the data-dependent choice, compares favourably to the maximum achievable power for the tests calculated over a grid of values of the tuning parameter.

Keywords:

• goodness-of-fit tests
• bootstrap
• power
• tuning parameter
• exponential distribution
• empirical characteristic function

AMS Subject Classification:

• 62G10
• 62G09

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the associate editors and an anonymous referee for comments that led to an improved paper.