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An Analytic Method for Evaluating the Performance of Aggregation Rules for Probability Densities

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  • Stephen C. Hora

    (Viterbi School of Engineering, and School of Policy, Planning, and Development, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089)

Abstract

It is shown how infinite sequences of densities with defined properties can be used to evaluate the expected performance of mathematical aggregation rules for elicited densities. The performance of these rules is measured through the average variance, calibration, and average Brier score of the aggregates. A general result for the calibration of the arithmetic average of densities from well-calibrated independent experts is given. Arithmetic and geometric aggregation rules are compared using sequences of normal densities. Sequences are developed that exhibit dependence among experts and lack of calibration. The impact of correlation, number of experts, and degree of calibration on the performance of the aggregation is demonstrated.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen C. Hora, 2010. "An Analytic Method for Evaluating the Performance of Aggregation Rules for Probability Densities," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 58(5), pages 1440-1449, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:inm:oropre:v:58:y:2010:i:5:p:1440-1449
    DOI: 10.1287/opre.1100.0789
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. James K. Hammitt & Yifan Zhang, 2013. "Combining Experts’ Judgments: Comparison of Algorithmic Methods Using Synthetic Data," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(1), pages 109-120, January.
    2. Kenneth C. Lichtendahl & Yael Grushka-Cockayne & Robert L. Winkler, 2013. "Is It Better to Average Probabilities or Quantiles?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(7), pages 1594-1611, July.
    3. Roberto Casarin & Giulia Mantoan & Francesco Ravazzolo, 2016. "Bayesian Calibration of Generalized Pools of Predictive Distributions," Econometrics, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-24, March.
    4. Stephen C. Hora, 2013. "A Note on the Aggregation of Event Probabilities," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(5), pages 909-914, May.
    5. Chen Wang & Vicki M. Bier, 2013. "Expert Elicitation of Adversary Preferences Using Ordinal Judgments," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 61(2), pages 372-385, April.
    6. Stephen C. Hora & Benjamin R. Fransen & Natasha Hawkins & Irving Susel, 2013. "Median Aggregation of Distribution Functions," Decision Analysis, INFORMS, vol. 10(4), pages 279-291, December.
    7. Mitchell, James, 2013. "The Recalibrated and Copula Opinion Pools," EMF Research Papers 02, Economic Modelling and Forecasting Group.
    8. Samrat Chatterjee & Stephen C. Hora & Heather Rosoff, 2015. "Portfolio Analysis of Layered Security Measures," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(3), pages 459-475, March.
    9. Liu, Peng & Qiu, Yongping & Hu, Juntao & Tong, Jiejuan & Zhao, Jun & Li, Zhizhong, 2020. "Expert judgments for performance shaping Factors’ multiplier design in human reliability analysis," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).

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