A Sequential Approach for Estimating the Variance of a Normal Population Using Some Available Prior Information

Using some available information about the unknown variance $\sigma$$^2$ of a normal distribution with mean $\mu$, a sequential approach is used to estimate $\sigma$$^2$. Two cases have been considered regarding the mean $\mu$ being known or unknown. The mean square error (MSE) of the new estimators are compared to that of the usual estimator of $\sigma$$^2$, namely, the sample variance based on a sample of size equal to the expected sample size. Simulation results indicates that, the new estimator is more efficient than the usual estimator of $\sigma$$^2$whenever the actual value of $\sigma$$^2$ is not too far from the prior information.