Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-sxzjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T10:10:31.845Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A survey of concepts of independence for imprecise probabilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2000

INES COUSO
Affiliation:
Dpto. Estadistica e I.O. y D.M., Universidad de Oviedo, 33001 - Oviedo - Spain, couso@pinon.ccu.uniovi.es
SERAFIN MORAL
Affiliation:
Dpto. Ciencias de la Computacion, Universidad de Granada, 18071 - Granada - Spain, smc@decsai.ugr.es
PETER WALLEY
Affiliation:
pwalley@hotmail.com
Get access

Abstract

Our aim in this paper is to clarify the notion of independence for imprecise probabilities. Suppose that two marginal experiments are each described by an imprecise probability model, i.e., by a convex set of probability distributions or an equivalent model such as upper and lower probabilities or previsions. Then there are several ways to define independence of the two experiments and to construct an imprecise probability model for the joint experiment. We survey and compare six definitions of independence. To clarify the meaning of the definitions and the relationships between them, we give simple examples which involve drawing balls from urns. For each concept of independence, we give a mathematical definition, an intuitive or behavioural interpretation, assumptions under which the definition is justified, and an example of an urn model to which the definition is applicable. Each of the independence concepts we study appears to be useful in some kinds of application. The concepts of strong independence and epistemic independence appear to be the most frequently applicable.

Type
Technical article
Copyright
© Risk, Decision and Policy, 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)