Advances in computation mean that it is now possible to fit a wide range of complex models to data, but there remains the problem of selecting a model on which to base reported inferences. Following an early suggestion of Box & Tiao, it seems reasonable to seek 'inference robustness' in reported...

The joint usage of unit- and area-level data for model-based small area estimation is investigated. The combination of levels within a single model encloses a variety of methodological problems. Firstly, it implies a critical decrease in degrees of freedom due to more model parameters that need...

The main objective of this PhD was to further develop Bayesian spatio-temporal models (specifically the Conditional Autoregressive (CAR) class of models), for the analysis of sparse disease outcomes such as birth defects. The motivation for the thesis arose from problems encountered when...

The joint usage of unit- and area-level data for model-based small area estimation is investigated. The combination of levels within a single model encloses a variety of methodological problems. Firstly, it implies a critical decrease in degrees of freedom due to more model parameters that need...

In this work we propose a model for the intensity of a space–time point process, specified by a sequence of spatial surfaces that evolve dynamically in time. This specification allows flexible structures for the components of the model, in order to handle temporal and spatial variations both...

Hierarchical Bayesian models involving conditional autoregression (CAR) components are commonly used in disease mapping. An alternative model to the proper or improper CAR is the Gaussian component mixture (GCM) model. A review of CAR and GCM models is provided in univariate settings where only...

In Bayesian disease mapping, one needs to specify a neighborhood structure to make inference about the underlying geographical relative risks. We propose a model in which the neighborhood structure is part of the parameter space. We retain the Markov property of the typical Bayesian spatial...