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A fuzzy logic based estimator for respondent driven sampling of complex networks

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  • Fatemi, Samira
  • Salehi, Mostafa
  • Veisi, Hadi
  • Jalili, Mahdi

Abstract

Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) is a popular network-based method for sampling from hidden population. This method is a type of chain referral (or snowball) sampling in which an estimator is used to infer the proportion of the population with that property. Existing RDS estimators are asymptotically unbiased based on various underlying assumptions. However, these assumptions are often violated in practice, and little attention has been given to violation of one of these assumptions on accurately reporting the degree by all nodes. In this paper, we address the violation of this assumption and propose a new estimator based on fuzzy computing. In particular, the number of an individual’s contacts can be a fuzzy concept. Using fuzzy functions, we transform the reported degrees to fuzzy numbers and estimate the infection prevalence in the hidden population by the proposed estimator. We simulate RDS method under the condition that all assumptions are satisfied except the one for the degree, and then evaluate the proposed estimator in synthetic and real datasets. Our results show that the fuzzy-based estimator can reduce the sampling bias in average 54% as compared to the existing methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Fatemi, Samira & Salehi, Mostafa & Veisi, Hadi & Jalili, Mahdi, 2018. "A fuzzy logic based estimator for respondent driven sampling of complex networks," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 510(C), pages 42-51.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:510:y:2018:i:c:p:42-51
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2018.06.094
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gile, Krista J., 2011. "Improved Inference for Respondent-Driven Sampling Data With Application to HIV Prevalence Estimation," Journal of the American Statistical Association, American Statistical Association, vol. 106(493), pages 135-146.
    2. Xin Lu & Linus Bengtsson & Tom Britton & Martin Camitz & Beom Jun Kim & Anna Thorson & Fredrik Liljeros, 2012. "The sensitivity of respondent‐driven sampling," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 175(1), pages 191-216, January.
    3. Pablo M. Gleiser & Leon Danon, 2003. "Community Structure In Jazz," Advances in Complex Systems (ACS), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 6(04), pages 565-573.
    4. Krista J. Gile & Lisa G. Johnston & Matthew J. Salganik, 2015. "Diagnostics for respondent-driven sampling," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 178(1), pages 241-269, January.
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