WORKSHOPS ON FORMAL EVIDENCE FOR ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESES

Research workers in many fields are realizing the substantial limitations of 
statistical tests, test statistics, arbitrary α-levels, P-values, and 
dichotomous rulings concerning “statistical significance.”  These 
traditional approaches were developed at the beginning of the last century 
and are being replaced by modern methods that are much more useful.  These 
methods rely on the concept of information loss and formal evidence.  They 
provide easy-to-compute quantities such at the probability of each 
hypothesis/model and evidence ratios.  Furthermore, simple methods allow 
formal inference (e.g. prediction/forecasting) from all the models in an a 
priori set (“multimodel inference”). 

I am planning to offer several 2-day courses on the Information-Theoretic 
approaches to statistical inference during January, March, and April, 2012.  
These courses focus on the practical application of these new methods and 
are based on Kullback-Leibler information and Akaike’s information criterion 
(AIC).  The material follows the recent textbook,

Anderson, D. R. 2008. Model based inference in the life sciences: a primer 
on evidence. Springer, New York, NY. 184pp.

A copy of this book, a reference sheet, and several handouts are included in 
the registration fee.  These courses stress science and science philosophy 
as much as statistical methods.  The focus is on quantification and 
qualification of formal evidence concerning alternative science hypotheses.  
These courses can be hosted, organized, and delivered at your university, 
agency, institute, or training center.  I have given 55-660 of these courses 
and they have been well received.  The courses are informal and discussion 
and debate are encouraged.  Further insights can be found at

http://aicanderson2.home.comcast.net

Details on hosting such a course are given at

http://aicandersion1.home.comcast.net  click on “Hosting a Short Course” on 
the left.

If you are interested in hosting a course at your location, please contact 
me.  Thank you.

David R. Anderson
[email protected]

Reply via email to