Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
A Dirichlet multinomial distribution for composition data can help capture error more accurately
Describe the solution you'd like
Describe alternatives you've considered
Plain ol multinomial or multinomial robust (with small constant added)
Describe a reference describing the statistical validity of this approach
Thorson et al. 2017. Model-based estimates of effective sample size in stock assessment models using the Dirichlet-multinomial distribution.
Describe if this is needed for a management application
???
Additional context
@iantaylor-NOAA noted in issue 136 that measures of uncertainty specified in the input data might change based on what distribution is being used. For the Dirichlet-multinomial there still needs to be an input sample size but it is unclear if we should be using the same input sample size for the Dirichlet-multinomial as we do the multinomial. Something to think about when coding and advocating for a non-standard distribution. [Moved from #136 to this issue by @kellijohnson-NOAA].
Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
A Dirichlet multinomial distribution for composition data can help capture error more accurately
Describe the solution you'd like
Describe alternatives you've considered
Plain ol multinomial or multinomial robust (with small constant added)
Describe a reference describing the statistical validity of this approach
Thorson et al. 2017. Model-based estimates of effective sample size in stock assessment models using the Dirichlet-multinomial distribution.
Describe if this is needed for a management application
???
Additional context
@iantaylor-NOAA noted in issue 136 that measures of uncertainty specified in the input data might change based on what distribution is being used. For the Dirichlet-multinomial there still needs to be an input sample size but it is unclear if we should be using the same input sample size for the Dirichlet-multinomial as we do the multinomial. Something to think about when coding and advocating for a non-standard distribution. [Moved from #136 to this issue by @kellijohnson-NOAA].