On an inferential model construction using generalized associations

Abstract

The inferential model (IM) approach, like fiducial and its generalizations, depends on a representation of the data-generating process. Here, a particular variation on the IM construction is considered, one based on generalized associations. The resulting generalized IM is more flexible than the basic IM in that it does not require a complete specification of the data-generating process and is provably valid under mild conditions. Computation and marginalization strategies are discussed, and two applications of this generalized IM approach are presented.