developerWorks: Implement Bayesian Inference Using PHP: Part 2

“Statistics consists of a set of classic problems and knowledge
about the methods that might be used to solve those problems.
Classic problems in statistics include parameter estimation,
hypothesis testing, prediction, model selection, and decision
making. Researchers in artificial intelligence have added
classification, clustering, and learning to this list of inference
problems.

“Bayes inference methods are distinguished from other inference
methods (such as least squares, maximum likelihood, maximum
entrophy, minimum description length) by the fact that a Bayes
inference method can be applied to every type of problem in this
list and often represents the optimal method to use. Statisticians,
philosophers, and computer scientists have proposed numerous guides
to reliable inference, but Bayes inference methods reign supreme as
the most versatile and often the most effective set of methods to
use for a vast range of inductive inference problems.

“In this article, I will discuss the classic problem of
parameter estimation and develop Bayesian parameter estimation code
using the popular Web scripting language PHP. I am specifically
concerned with developing parameter estimation code that might be
used in the analyses of simple Web surveys…”

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