On using the sample mean in Bayesian factor analysis

In a Bayesian factor analysis model proposed by Press and Shigemasu 0939), the sample size was assumed to be large enough to estimate the overall population mean by the sample mean. In this paper, the procedure of estimating the population mean by the sample mean is compared to estimating it along with the other parameters both by Gibbs sampling and Iterated Conditional Modes. Results show that even in small samples, the Gibbs sampling and Iterated Conditional Modes estimates of the mean are for practical purposes identical to the sample mean. Thus, the population mean is adequately estimated by its sample value.