Other Statistics and Probability Commons^™

Using Neural Networks To Classify Discrete Circular Probability Distributions, Madelyn Gaumer

HMC Senior Theses

Given the rise in the application of neural networks to all sorts of interesting problems, it seems natural to apply them to statistical tests. This senior thesis studies whether neural networks built to classify discrete circular probability distributions can outperform a class of well-known statistical tests for uniformity for discrete circular data that includes the Rayleigh Test¹, the Watson Test², and the Ajne Test³. Each neural network used is relatively small with no more than 3 layers: an input layer taking in discrete data sets on a circle, a hidden layer, and an output …