Statistical Science· 2026Q1
The Many Routes to the Ubiquitous Bradley–Terry Model
- 3citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
This paper unifies diverse theoretical motivations for the Bradley–Terry model, a widely used method for rating items based on pairwise comparisons.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- The Bradley–Terry model is a key statistical tool for rating items using pairwise comparisons.
- The paper consolidates multiple theoretical justifications for the model's use.
- These justifications span principles-based, objective function maximization, statistical model derivations, and game theory scenarios.
- The work includes both well-known and novel presentations of these motivations.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
The rating of items based on pairwise comparisons has been a topic of statistical investigation for many decades. Numerous approaches have been proposed. One of the best known is the Bradley–Terry model. This paper seeks to assemble and explain a variety of motivations for its use. Some are based on principles or on maximizing an objective function; others are derived from well-known statistical models, or stylized game scenarios. They include both examples well-known in the literature as well as what are believed to be novel presentations.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Statistical Science, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Economics and Econometrics
Economics and EconometricsEconomics, Econometrics and Finance