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:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Maria Angeles Gil Department of Statistics University of Oviedo C/Calvo Sotelo,s/n 33007 Oviedo Spain E-mail:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Henk A.L. Kiers Heymans Institute (DPMG) University of Groningen Grote Kruisstraat 2/1 9712 TS Groningen The Netherlands E-mail:[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Erricos John Kontoghiorghes CSDA Journal [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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
