STAT Model Selection Review

1. From the abstract (the first paragraph in bold), how is model selection used. 2. What does model selection offer in contrast to a single null hypothesis test? 3. What are three primary advantages of model selection? 4. Name two commonly used criteria for model selection? 5. Name a method to address the problem of several models all being viable? In other words, if there is uncertainty about the best model, what’s the name of a general approach to weighing the estimates from multiple models together? 6. If a model has parsimony / is parsimonious, what does that mean, in your own words? 7. What is a more recent application of model selection in evolutionary biology? What about model selection makes it well suited to this application? 8. What is the basis behind the model fitting algorithms and/or parameter estimation in applications like mark-recapture studies and molecular systematics? 9. What do model selection-based inferences ultimately depend upon? 10. The authors suggest a requirement of the model being selected. This is to ensure the parameter estimates are biologically plausible. Describe this requirement. 11. In your own words, describe a challenge in communicating the results or inferences from a model selection approach compared to a more traditional approach like a single model, null hypothesis test approach. 12. What potential use, if any, do you see for model selection in your own intended research? (There is no wrong answer to this question)