A bayesian alternative to the analysis of matched categorical responces

Abstract

This study investigates the Bayesian appeoach to the analysis of parired responess when the responses are categorical. Using resampling and analytical procedures, inferences for homogeneity and agreement are develped. The posterior analysis is based on the Dirichlet distribution from which repeated samples can be geneated with a random number generator. Resampling and analytical techniques are employed to make Bayesian inferences, and when it is not appropriate to use analytical procedures, resampling techniques are easily implemented. Bayesian methodoloogy is illustrated with several examples and the results show that they are exacr-small sample procedures that can easily solve inference problems for matched designs.

Keywords:

• The Dirichlet distribution
• McNemar's test
• paired experiments
• resampling
• posterior probabilities