The likelihood ratio approximation to the conditional distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator in the discrete case

The likelihood ratio approximation, also called Barndorff-Nielsen's approxi mation and often denoted by p*, provides a highly accurate approximation to the conditional density of a maximum likelihood estimator <(<theta>)over c ap> given an ancillary statistic. In this paper, the properties of p* are c onsidered for the case in which the underlying random variables have a latt ice distribution and <(<theta>)over cap> has a discrete, but not necessaril y lattice, distribution. If <(<theta>)over cap> has a lattice distribution, ;then p* provides a valid approximation to the density of <(<theta>)over ca p> with respect to counting measure. If the distribution of <(<theta>)over cap> is non-lattice, then p* is still a valid approximation to the conditio nal density of <(<theta>)over cap> however, the dominating measure is no lo nger counting measure.