CALL FOR PAPERS
COMPUTATIONAL STATISTICS & DATA ANALYSIS
Special Issue on THE FUZZY APPROACH TO STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
http://www.elsevier.nl/locate/csda

A basic problem, at the present stage of the Information society, is
how to manage the cognitive process while taking into account its
intrinsic features of uncertainty, including imprecision and
vagueness. This has both theoretical and practical implications in
Technology, Economics, Bio-medicine, etc.

Traditional Statistics has developed tools and procedures for coping
with this problem, assuming that uncertainty is basically due to
random mechanisms appropriately handled by means of Probability. The
theory of Fuzzy Sets and its generalization to what may be called
"Fuzzy thinking" has widened the scope of Statistics enabling us to
deal with more general sources of uncertainty such as vagueness and
imprecision as referred to both empirical data and/or models for data
analysis. In spite of a growing literature concerning the development
and application of fuzzy techniques in statistical analysis (with
special reference to regression and clustering), the need is felt for
a more systematic insight into the potential of cross fertilization
between Statistics and Fuzzy Logic.

This special issue is meant to cover foundations, methodology and
applications of the Fuzzy approach to Statistics. Foundational issues
may include: the use of Possibility Theory in Statistics; the Least
Squares approach to building statistical models for fuzzy data; the
construction and utilization of Fuzzy Probabilistic Models in
statistical analysis; the relationship between Conditional probability
and Fuzzy Information in the inferential framework; the comparison
between Fuzzy Methods and traditional Statistical Methods.

The Methodological domain to be investigated from a fuzzy viewpoint
may encompass both exploratory and inferential techniques. Invitation
to submitting is also extended to original applications of fuzzy
statistical methods in such fields as: Economics and Finance, Social
Sciences, Bio-medicine, Environmental Sciences, Technology. The
discussion of computational aspects in the above context is
particularly welcome.

The papers submitted to the special issue should deal with one or more
of the illustrated problems or with related topics, in a fuzzy
framework. The papers must have a computational or data analytic
component in order to be considered for publication.

Authors should submit their papers to the special issue editors.  The
papers must contain original unpublished work that is not being
submitted for publication elsewhere. Manuscripts submitted to this
special issue will be refereed according to standard procedures for
Computational Statistics and Data Analysis. Information about the
journal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/csda

The DEADLINE for submissions is December 31, 2004.

The editorial process is expected to proceed rapidly thereafter.
Submission electronically is encouraged. Please e-mail a postscript or
PDF file of your manuscript to one of the special issue editors:

Renato Coppi
Department of Statistics
University of Rome
P.le Aldo Moro, 5
00185 Rome
Italy
E-mail:[log in to unmask]

Maria Angeles Gil
Department of Statistics
University of Oviedo
C/Calvo Sotelo,s/n
33007 Oviedo
Spain
E-mail:[log in to unmask]

Henk A.L. Kiers
Heymans Institute (DPMG)
University of Groningen
Grote Kruisstraat 2/1
9712 TS Groningen
The Netherlands
E-mail:[log in to unmask]
--
Erricos John Kontoghiorghes        CSDA Journal
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URL: http://iiun.unine.ch/matrix/  http://www.elsevier.nl/locate/csda
Tel: +41 32 718 27 38              Fax: +41 32 718 27 01
Institut d'informatique, Universite de Neuchatel,
Rue Emile-Argand 11, CP2, CH-2007 Neuchatel, Switzerland