# An Automated Stopping Rule for MCMC Convergence Assessment

1 IS2 - Statistical Inference for Industry and Health
Inria Grenoble - Rhône-Alpes, LBBE - Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive
Abstract : In this paper, we propose a methodology essentially based on the Central Limit Theorem for Markov chains to monitor convergence of MCMC algorithms using actual outputs. Our methods are grounded on the fact that normality is a testable implication of sufficient mixing. The first control tool tests the normality hypothesis for normalized averages of functions of the Markov chain over independent parallel chains started from a dispersed distribution. A second connected tool is based on graphical monitoring of the stabilization of the variance after $n$ iterations near the limiting variance appearing in the CLT. Both methods work without knowledge on the sampler driving the chain, and the normality diagnostic leads to automated stopping rules. The methodology is developed for finite state Markov chains, and extended to the continuous case. Heuristic procedures based on Berry-Essée- n bounds are also investigated. These stopping rules are implemented in a software toolbox whose performances are illustrated through simulations for finite and continuous state chains reflecting some typical situations (slow mixing, multimodality) and a full scale application. Comparisons are made with the binary control method of Raftery and Lewis.
Keywords :
Type de document :
Rapport
RR-3566, INRIA. 1998
Domaine :

https://hal.inria.fr/inria-00073116
Contributeur : Rapport de Recherche Inria <>
Soumis le : mercredi 24 mai 2006 - 11:53:52
Dernière modification le : jeudi 28 juin 2018 - 14:38:37
Document(s) archivé(s) le : dimanche 4 avril 2010 - 23:34:55

### Identifiants

• HAL Id : inria-00073116, version 1

### Citation

Didier Chauveau, Jean Diebolt. An Automated Stopping Rule for MCMC Convergence Assessment. RR-3566, INRIA. 1998. 〈inria-00073116〉

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