Sequential Point Estimation Procedures for the Generalized Life Distributions

SYNOPTIC ABSTRACT

Sequential procedures are developed for the point estimation of the parameter of the generalized life distributions under (i) squared-error loss function plus linear cost of sampling and (ii) squared-error loss function plus log-cost function. Second-order approximations are obtained for the risk and theoretical justifications to some of the numerical findings of Starr and Woodroofe (1972) is given. ‘Improved’ estimators are proposed and their dominance over the usual estimators is established.

Key Words and Phrases:

• generalized life distributions
• sequential estimation
• improved estimators
• second-order approximations