Bayesian Analysis for Penalized Spline Regression Using WinBUGS

Authors

Ciprian Crainiceanu, Johns Hopkins UniversityFollow
David Ruppert, Cornell UniversityFollow
M. P. Wand, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

19153

Publication Details

Crainiceanu, C. M., Ruppert, D. & Wand, M. P. (2005). Bayesian Analysis for Penalized Spline Regression Using WinBUGS. Journal of Statistical Software, 14 (14), 1-24.

Abstract

Penalized splines can be viewed as BLUPs in a mixed model framework, which allows the use of mixed model software for smoothing. Thus, software originally developed for Bayesian analysis of mixed models can be used for penalized spline regression. Bayesian inference for nonparametric models enjoys the flexibility of nonparametric models and the exact inference provided by the Bayesian inferential machinery. This paper provides a simple, yet comprehensive, set of programs for the implementation of nonparametric Bayesian analysis in WinBUGS. Good mixing properties of the MCMC chains are obtained by using low-rank thin-plate splines, while simulation times per iteration are reduced employing WinBUGS specific computational tricks.