Non-parametric Bayesian models :
Nonparametric Bayesian models are a type of statistical model that do not make assumptions about the form or shape of the underlying data distribution. This is in contrast to parametric models, which assume a specific functional form for the data distribution (e.g. normal distribution, Poisson distribution, etc.). Nonparametric models allow for more flexible modeling of data and can be useful when the underlying data distribution is unknown or cannot be accurately described by a parametric model.
One example of a nonparametric Bayesian model is the Dirichlet process mixture model. This model is used to cluster data into multiple groups (also known as mixture components). The Dirichlet process is a distribution over distributions, and it specifies the probability of each mixture component in the model. This allows for an infinite number of mixture components to be considered, making it a nonparametric model as it does not assume a fixed number of mixture components.
Another example of a nonparametric Bayesian model is the Gaussian process model. This model is used for regression tasks, where the goal is to predict a continuous variable based on one or more input variables. The Gaussian process model assumes that the relationship between the input and output variables is governed by a Gaussian distribution, but it does not make assumptions about the functional form of this relationship. Instead, it estimates the mean and variance of the distribution at each point in the input space, allowing for a highly flexible and nonparametric model of the data.
Both of these models have the advantage of being able to adapt to the underlying data distribution, rather than relying on assumptions about the form of the data. This can be particularly useful when the data is complex or exhibits multiple modes or nonlinear relationships. However, nonparametric models can also be more computationally intensive and may require more data to accurately estimate the distribution of the data.
In summary, nonparametric Bayesian models are a type of statistical model that do not make assumptions about the form of the underlying data distribution. They offer a flexible approach to modeling data and can be useful when the data exhibits complex or nonlinear relationships. However, they can also be computationally intensive and may require more data to accurately estimate the distribution.