Because the model had discrete dependent variables, the best method of estimation for the model is a robust weighted least squares, also known as the weighted least squares with mean and variance adjustment (20).
Based on recent reviews [ 9, 10], stochastic ranking evolutionary strategy (SRES) is one of the best methods for parameter estimation of biological problems.
It should be noted that maximum likelihood estimation is not considered to be the best method for use with ordinal data [ 36], as it was developed for continuous variables with a joint multivariate normal distribution.
It is also important to note, as Barnes et al. (2001) point out, that data from Likert scales are rarely normally distributed in practice, and that, for all practical purposes, ML remains the best possible method for estimation.
An extension of the empirical best (EB) method for estimation of general non-linear parameters in small areas that handles informative selection by incorporating the sampling weights is proposed.
These methods are used to obtain the IDF curves for six different durations (10, 20, 30 min, and 1, 2, 24 h) and six frequency periods (2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 years) where the best method of IDF estimation is recommended for future analysis.
