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LTT: P. Reinagel
April 15, 2022 @ 12:10 pm - 1:30 pm EDT
Pamela Reinagel
The limited role of null hypothesis testing in Biology: A practicing biologist’s perspective on the Reproducibility Crisis
Abstract: In recent years there has been much discussion of rigor, reliability and reproducibility in science. Some metascience analyses, reproducibility projects, and proposed science reforms appear to make naive assumptions about the goals, methods, and products of biological basic research — particularly where these differ from the social sciences or the more public-facing clinical branches of biology. Many seem to presume an undifferentiated “scientific method” that works the same way in all fields of science. Speaking as a researcher with decades of experience in experimental Biology, I will challenge some of these assumptions. In particular, the discussion has greatly overestimated the role of statistical hypothesis testing in the advancement of knowledge in Biology, and has neglected and devalued non-statistical forms of inference that have contributed importantly to Biology’s progress in the past century. This talk will share one biologist’s observations on how biologists actually draw conclusions from experiments, what kinds of conclusions those are, and what factors influence our judgements about their validity, certainty, or generality. I will focus on implications for how we risk reaching wrong conclusions, whether or how we discover such errors, and how the rigor of a single contribution or an entire field might be reasonably communicated or assessed. I will argue that the highly qualitative and integrative nature of inferential reasoning in Biology, with its strong dependence on deep, domain-specific theoretical and technical knowledge, presents a severe impediment to non-expert assessments or formulaic reforms. We in Biology would benefit from a more active engagement with statisticians to identify or develop approaches suited to our needs. We would also benefit from more engagement with philosophers and historians of science, who I think could help us better describe, codify, justify, and communicate our inferential methods. A more explicit formulation would surely improve scientific practice, training of future researchers, and public trust in science.
Please Note: Non-Pitt individuals who want to attend our in-person talks must send an email in advance to Shoshi Burd-Baugh (shoshi.burdbaugh@pitt.edu) requesting Guest Building Access, or you will not be able to enter the Cathedral of Learning.
To attend this talk via Zoom please register at: https://pitt.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gR2lZDxMR92k9TtTTDEpig
Details
- Date:
- April 15, 2022
- Time:
-
12:10 pm - 1:30 pm EDT
- Event Categories:
- Lunchtime Talks, Lunchtime Talks 2021-22
Venue
- 1117 Cathedral of Learning
-
4200 Fifth Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15260 United States