Models, measures and messages: an essay on the role for induction

• Published in: Community ecology Vol. 3; no. 2; pp. 191 - 204
• Main Author: Dale, M.B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Akadémiai Kiadà 2002; Akadémiai Kiadó
• Subjects: Causality; community ecology; Dimensionality; Ecological modeling; Entropy; Falsification; Inductive reasoning; Maximum likelihood estimation; Model classes; Model selection; Modeling; Null hypothesis; plant ecology; Prediction; Series convergence; Valorisation; Vegetation

In this essay, I examine the role of induction in developing vegetation models. Falsification is a necessary component of model building but is not itself sufficient. Induction provides a necessary complement and one that dethrones the null hypothesis from its privileged state. After examining the r...