Approximate Bayesian Solution for Estimating Population Size from Dual-record System

Abstract

For Dual-record system, in the context of human population, the popular Chandrasekar-Deming model incorporates only the time variation effect on capture probabilities. How-ever, in practice population may undergo behavioral change after being captured first time. In this paper we focus on the Dual-record system model (equivalent to capture- recapture model with two sampling occasions) with both the time as well as behavioral response variation. The relevant model suffers from identifiability problem. Two approaches are proposed from which approximate Bayes estimates can be obtained using very simple Gibbs sampling strategies. We explore the features of our two proposed methods and their usages depending on the availability (or non-availability) of the information on the nature of behavioral response effect. Extensive simulation studies are carried out to evaluate their performances and compare with few available approaches. Finally, a real data application is provided to the model and the methods.