
Several applications involving counts present a large proportion of zeros (excess-of-zeros data). A popular model for such data is the hurdle model, which explicitly models the probability of a zero count, while assuming a sampling distribution on the positive integers. We consider data from multiple count processes. In this context, it is of interest to study the patterns of counts and cluster the subjects accordingly. We introduce a novel Bayesian approach to cluster multiple, possibly related, zero-inflated processes. We propose a joint model for zero-inflated counts, specifying a hurdle model for each process with a shifted Negative Binomial sampling distribution. Conditionally on the model parameters, the different processes are assumed independent, leading to a substantial reduction in the number of parameters as compared with traditional multivariate approaches. The subject-specific probabilities of zero-inflation and the parameters of the sampling distribution are flexibly modelled via an enriched finite mixture with random number of components. This induces a two-level clustering of the subjects based on the zero/non-zero patterns (outer clustering) and on the sampling distribution (inner clustering). Posterior inference is performed through tailored Markov chain Monte Carlo schemes. We demonstrate the proposed approach on an application involving the use of the messaging service WhatsApp. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Bayesian inference: challenges, perspectives, and prospects’.
nested clustering, FOS: Computer and information sciences, enriched priors, conditional algorithm, CONDITIONAL ALGORITHM, ENRICHED PRIORS, EXCESS-OF-ZEROS DATA, FINITE MIXTURES, HURDLE MODEL, NESTED CLUSTERING, Articles, excess-of-zeros data, Statistics - Applications, Methodology (stat.ME), finite mixtures, Applications (stat.AP), hurdle model, conditional algorithm; enriched priors; excess-of-zeros data; finite mixtures; hurdle model; nested clustering;, Statistics - Methodology
nested clustering, FOS: Computer and information sciences, enriched priors, conditional algorithm, CONDITIONAL ALGORITHM, ENRICHED PRIORS, EXCESS-OF-ZEROS DATA, FINITE MIXTURES, HURDLE MODEL, NESTED CLUSTERING, Articles, excess-of-zeros data, Statistics - Applications, Methodology (stat.ME), finite mixtures, Applications (stat.AP), hurdle model, conditional algorithm; enriched priors; excess-of-zeros data; finite mixtures; hurdle model; nested clustering;, Statistics - Methodology
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 8 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
