Resampling-based confidence regions and multiple tests



We study generalized bootstrap confidence regions for the mean of a random vector whose coordinates have an unknown dependency structure. The random vector is supposed to be either Gaussian or to have a symmetric and bounded distribution. The dimensionality of the vector can possibly be much larger than the number of observations and we focus on a non-asymptotic control of the confidence level, following ideas inspired by recent results in learning theory.
We consider two approaches, the first based on a concentration principle (valid for a large class of resampling weights) and the second on a direct resampled quantile, specifically using Rademacher weights. Several intermediate results established in the approach based on concentration principles are of self-interest. We also discuss the question of accuracy when using Monte-Carlo approximations of the resampled quantities.
We present an application of these results to the one-sided and two-sided multiple testing problem, in which we derive several resampling-based step-down procedures providing a non-asymptotic FWER control. We compare our different procedures in a simulation study, and we show that they can outperform Bonferroni's or Holm's procedures as soon as the observed vector has sufficiently correlated coordinates.

(Joint work with Gilles Blanchard and Etienne Roquain. The Annals of Statistics 38, 1 (2010) 51-99.)