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Separate substantive from statistical hypotheses and treat them differently

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2022

Mike Dacey*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, Bates College, Lewiston, ME04240, USA. mdacey@bates.edu; mikedacey.net

Abstract

I suggest addressing the problems Yarkoni identifies by separating substantive from statistical hypotheses, and treating them differently. A statistical test of experimental data only bears directly on statistical hypotheses. Evaluation of related substantive hypotheses requires an additional, qualitative inference to the best explanation. Statistical inference cannot do all of the work of theory choice.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

Dacey, M. (forthcoming). Evidence in default: Rejecting default models of animal minds. The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science. https://doi.org/10.1086/714799.Google Scholar
Hays, W. L. (1994). Statistics. Harcourt Brace College Publishers.Google Scholar