Abstract
AbstractAs a method of estimating the parameters of bivariate discrete distributions from sample data, maximum‐likelihood usually involves iterative procedures which are complicated and relatively time‐consuming even on modern computers. Simple moment estimators, though quick and easy are, however, often inefficient and so alternative procedures have been investigated.In the present paper we introduce a simple estimation procedure which utilizes both marginal and conditional means, using the bivariate Poisson, negative binomial, Hermite and Neyman A distributions as illustrations. In addition, the bivariate negative trinomial distribution is fitted to a set of human family data and the correlation between the numbers of two types of children in a family is examined.
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