A Note on N Estimators for the Binomial Distribution Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Consider k success counts from a binomial distribution with unknown N and success probability p. We examine the problem of estimating N. By integrating the likelihood for N and p over a beta density for p, we obtain the beta-binomial distribution resulting in stable and reasonably efficient estimators of N, which compare favorably with and are often better than the estimates introduced by Olkin et al. (1981). 1985 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

published proceedings

  • Journal of the American Statistical Association

author list (cited authors)

  • Carroll, R. J., & Lombard, F.

citation count

  • 32

complete list of authors

  • Carroll, Raymond J||Lombard, F

publication date

  • June 1985