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Iowa State University

Statistical methods for random rotations

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The analysis of orientation data is a growing field in statistics. Though the rotationally symmetric location model for orientation data is simple, statistical methods for estimation and inference for the location parameter, S are limited. In this dissertation we develop point estimation and confidence region methods for the central orientation.</p> <p>Both extrinsic and intrinsic approaches to estimating the central orientation S have been proposed in the literature, but no rigorous comparison of the approaches is available. In Chapter 2 we consider both intrinsic and extrinsic estimators of the central orientation and compare their statistical properties in a simulation study. In particular we consider the projected mean, geometric mean and geometric median. In addition we introduce the projected median as a novel robust estimator of the location parameter. The results of a simulation study suggest the projected median is the preferred estimator because of its low bias and mean square error.</p> <p>Non-parametric confidence regions for the central orientation have been proposed in the literature, but they have undesirable coverage rates for small samples. In Chapter 3 we propose a nonparametric pivotal bootstrap to calibrate confidence regions for the central orientation. We demonstrate the benefits of using calibrated confidence regions in a simulation study and prove the proposed bootstrap method is consistent.</p> <p>Robust statistical methods for estimating the central orientation has received very little attention. In Chapter 4 we explore the finite sample and asymptotic properties of the projected median. In particular we derive the asymptotic distribution of the projected median and show it is SB-robust for the Cayley and matrix Fisher distributions. Confidence regions for the central orientation S are proposed, which can be shown to have preferable finite sample coverage rates compared to those based on the projected mean.</p> <p>Finally the rotations package is developed in Chapter 5, which contains functions for the statistical analysis of rotation data in SO(3).</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy
Level thesis:degree_level
dissertation
Department dc:contributor.department
Department of Statistics (LAS)
Year dc:date.issued
2014

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Stanfill, Bryan
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Ulrike Genschel

Rights

Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/13760/
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dr.lib.iastate.edu:20.500.12876/27947

Chain of custody

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Iowa State University
Base URL
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Last updated
2026-07-24
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citation

Stanfill, Bryan. Statistical methods for random rotations. dissertation thesis, 2014. https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/handle/20.500.12876/27947