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Empirical content as a criterion for evaluating models.

Marc Jekel
Published in: Cognitive processing (2019)
Hypotheses derived from models can be tested in an empirical study: If the model reliably fails to predict behavior, it can be dismissed or modified. Models can also be evaluated before data are collected: More useful models have a high level of empirical content (Popper in Logik der Forschung, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, 1934), i.e., they make precise predictions (degree of precision) for many events (level of universality). I apply these criteria to reflect on some critical aspects of Kirsch's (Cognit Process, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-019-00904-3 ) unifying computational model of decision making.
Keyphrases
  • decision making
  • electronic health record
  • machine learning
  • artificial intelligence