M HYPE SPLASH
// news

Jeffreys Prior and Posterior

By Andrew Adams
$\begingroup$

The question says provided a random sample $(x_1, x_2, \ldots ,x_n)=x$ from a Poisson distribution say $P(\theta)$.

It asks to find the Jeffreys prior distribution for $\theta$ and then find the posterior distribution of $\theta|x$.

I found the Jeffreys prior but have a doubt on the 2nd part of the question. What I know is given a Poisson prior, we would find the posterior distribution which will usually be a Gamma distribution. But they didn't provide other distributions in the question. How can we find the posterior distribution?

$\endgroup$

1 Answer

$\begingroup$

The Jeffreys' (improper) prior for a $\operatorname{Poisson}(\theta)$ is$$ p_{\mathrm{prior}}(\theta)\propto \theta^{-1/2} 1_{\theta>0}. $$You are given $x_i\sim\operatorname{Poisson}(\theta)$, so assuming $x_i$s are independent(!), the posterior is$$ p_{\mathrm{posterior}}(\theta\mid x)\propto p(x\mid\theta)p_{\mathrm{prior}}(\theta) \propto e^{-n\theta}\theta^{-1/2+\sum x_i}1_{\theta>0} $$i.e., $\theta\mid x\sim\operatorname{Gamma}(\alpha=\frac12+\sum x_i,\beta=n)$.

$\endgroup$

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Sign up using Google Sign up using Facebook Sign up using Email and Password

Post as a guest

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy