Global empirical bayes

Empirical Bayes estimators consider that the "real" rate associated with each area is not known, and that observed rate is available. The idea of Bayesian estimators is assumed that the actual rate is a random variable having a mean and a known variance.

The best estimator in this rate is a linear combination of the observed rate (events / population) in area A and an average value B weighted by a factor C.

The average weight may be used in the average rate of all areas (polygons) under study, in this case, the method is called Global Empirical Bayes.

It is accessible through:

PROCESSING → SPATIAL ANALYSIS → GLOBAL EMPIRICAL BAYES


Input Information:

Layer Name: Select the input layer.

Operation Parameters:

Event Attr Name: Attribute name that identifies the desired event information.

Population Attr Name: Attribute name that identifies the population information.

Rate Correction: This is the multiplicative rate correction value.

Output Information:

Repository: Select one type of repository by clicking on the button to save the output layer as a file or on the button to save it in the database.

Layer Name: Defines the name to create the output layer.

Click on the OK button and then the global bayes rate will be calculated.

Note: To calculate Bayesian Rates, the denominator (population at risk) does not have values equal or smaller than zero.