Bayes linear adjustment for variance matrices

Abstract

We examine the problem of covariance belief revision using a geometric approach. We exhibit an inner-product space where covariance matrices live naturally --- a space of random real symmetric matrices. The inner-product on this space captures aspects of our beliefs about the relationship between covariance matrices of interest to us, providing a structure rich enough for us to adjust beliefs about unknown matrices in the light of data such as sample covariance matrices, exploiting second-order exchangeability specifications.