Bayesian models and computation

Reason with prior information, likelihoods, posterior uncertainty, hierarchical structure, and calibrated computation.

10 published lessons1 module359 min of guided study
  1. 01
    Bayesian models and computationadvanced · 10 lessons

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Bayesian models and computation

Reason with prior information, likelihoods, posterior uncertainty, hierarchical structure, and calibrated computation.

  1. 01

    Bayes' rule and prior predictive models

    Construct a joint model, normalize its posterior, and check what the prior predicts before fitting observations.

    32 min
  2. 02

    Conjugate families and posterior updating

    Derive beta-binomial and gamma-Poisson updates while tracking normalization, units, and predictive dependence.

    34 min
  3. 03

    Posterior loss and Bayes decisions

    Turn posterior uncertainty into an action by specifying loss, comparing conditional risks, and checking sensitivity.

    33 min
  4. 04

    Hierarchical models and partial pooling

    Derive normal-model shrinkage, interpret exchangeability, and retain uncertainty in shared hyperparameters.

    36 min
  5. 05

    Posterior predictive checking

    Integrate parameter uncertainty, design revealing replicated-data summaries, and separate model checking from calibration.

    35 min
  6. 06

    Marginal likelihood and Bayes factors

    Compare fully specified predictive models while retaining normalizers, prior scales, and model odds.

    35 min
  7. 07

    Importance sampling and effective sample size

    Reweight independent proposal draws while checking support, tail behavior, ratio bias, and the limits of weight diagnostics.

    37 min
  8. 08

    Metropolis–Hastings and detailed balance

    Build a target-invariant transition kernel, retain rejected states, and separate stationarity from finite-run convergence.

    38 min
  9. 09

    Hamiltonian Monte Carlo and diagnostics

    Use auxiliary momentum and reversible integration while interpreting divergences, rank diagnostics, ESS, and Monte Carlo error.

    40 min
  10. 10

    Variational inference and approximation error

    Derive the ELBO, analyze a mean-field Gaussian example, and distinguish optimization success from posterior accuracy.

    39 min
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