Bayesian Methods for Nonlinear Classification and Regression

Nonlinear Bayesian modelling is a relatively new field, but one that has seen a recent explosion of interest. Nonlinear models offer more flexibility than those with linear assumptions, and their implementation has now become much easier due to increases in computational power. Bayesian methods allow for the incorporation of prior information, allowing the user to make coherent inference. Bayesian Methods for Nonlinear Classification and Regression is the first book to bring together, in a consistent statistical framework, the ideas of nonlinear modelling and Bayesian methods.

• Focuses on the problems of classification and regression using flexible, data-driven approaches.
• Demonstrates how Bayesian ideas can be used to improve existing statistical methods.
• Includes coverage of Bayesian additive models, decision trees, nearest-neighbour, wavelets, regression splines, and neural networks.
• Emphasis is placed on sound implementation of nonlinear models.
• Discusses medical, spatial, and economic applications.
• Includes problems at the end of most of the chapters.
• Supported by a web site featuring implementation code and data sets.

Contents

• Bayesian Modelling
• Curve Fitting
• Surface Fitting
• Classification using Generalised Nonlinear Models
• Bayesian Tree Models
• Partition Models
• Nearest-neighbour Models
• Multiple Response Models
• References
• Probability Distributions
• Inferential Processes