Sample-based maximum likelihood estimation of the autologistic model

New recursive algorithms for fast computation of the normalizing constant for the autologistic model on the lattice make feasible a sample-based maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) of the autologistic parameters. We demonstrate by sampling from 12 simulated 420 x 420 binary lattices with square lattice plots of size 4 x 4,..., 7 x 7 and sample sizes between 20 and 600. Sample-based results are compared with `benchmark' MCMC estimates derived from all binary observations on a lattice. Sample-based estimates are, on average, biased systematically by 3%-7%, a bias that can be reduced by more than half by a set of calibrating equations. MLE estimates of sampling variances are large and usually conservative. The variance of the parameter of spatial association is about 2-10 times higher than the variance of the parameter of abundance. Sample distributions of estimates were mostly non-normal. We conclude that sample-based MLE estimation of the autologistic parameters with an appropriate sample size and post-estimation calibration will furnish fully acceptable estimates. Equations for predicting the expected sampling variance are given.