Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology
- The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- Part I From Idea to Reality: The Basics of Research
- Part II The Building Blocks of a Study
- Part III Data Collection
- Part IV Statistical Approaches
- 21 Data Cleaning
- 22 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
- 23 Testing Theories with Bayes Factors
- 24 Introduction to Exploratory Factor Analysis: An Applied Approach
- 25 Structural Equation Modeling
- 26 Multilevel Modeling
- 27 Meta-Analysis
- 28 Qualitative Analysis
- Part V Tips for a Successful Research Career
- Index
- References
23 - Testing Theories with Bayes Factors
from Part IV - Statistical Approaches
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 May 2023
- The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology
- The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- Part I From Idea to Reality: The Basics of Research
- Part II The Building Blocks of a Study
- Part III Data Collection
- Part IV Statistical Approaches
- 21 Data Cleaning
- 22 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
- 23 Testing Theories with Bayes Factors
- 24 Introduction to Exploratory Factor Analysis: An Applied Approach
- 25 Structural Equation Modeling
- 26 Multilevel Modeling
- 27 Meta-Analysis
- 28 Qualitative Analysis
- Part V Tips for a Successful Research Career
- Index
- References
Summary
Bayes factors – evidence for one model versus another – are a useful tool in the social and behavioral sciences, partly because they can provide evidence for no effect relative to the sort of effect expected. By contrast, a non-significant result does not provide evidence for the null hypothesis tested. If non-significance does not in itself count against any theory predicting an effect, how could a theory fail a test? Bayes factors provide a measure of evidence from first principles. A severe test is one that is likely to obtain evidence against a theory if it were false – to obtain an extreme Bayes factor against the theory. Bayes factors show why cherry picking degrades evidence, how to deal with multiple testing, and how optional stopping is consistent with severe testing. Further, informed Bayes factors can be used to link theory tightly to how that theory is tested, so that the measured evidence does relate to the theory.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral SciencesVolume 1: Building a Program of Research, pp. 494 - 512Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023
References
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