A Variational EM Method for Mixed Membership Models with Multivariate Rank Data: an Analysis of Public Policy Preferences

Understand

In this article, we consider modeling ranked responses from a heterogeneous population.

• Specifically, we analyze data from the Eurobarometer 34.1 survey regarding public policy preferences towards drugs, alcohol and AIDS.
• Such policy preferences are likely to exhibit substantial differences within as well as across European nations reflecting a wide variety of cultures, political affiliations, ideological perspectives and common practices.
• We use a mixed membership model to account for multiple subgroups with differing preferences and to allow each individual to possess partial membership in more than one subgroup.