Statistical methods for cosmological parameter selection and estimation

Abstract

The estimation of cosmological parameters from precision observables is an important industry with crucial ramifications for particle physics. This article discusses the statistical methods presently used in cosmological data analysis, highlighting the main assumptions and uncertainties. The topics covered are parameter estimation, model selection, multi-model inference, and experimental design, all primarily from a Bayesian perspective.

Comments: 18 pages, 3 figures. To appear, Annual Reviews of Nuclear and Particle Science (ARNPS), vol 59