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Lessons for Theory from Scientific Domains Where Evidence is Sparse or Indirect.

Marieke Woensdregt1,2,3, Riccardo Fusaroli4,5,6, Patricia Rich7

  • 1Department of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sparse and indirect evidence in science, like human cognition evolution, can be overcome. Five practices—explicit assumptions, alternative theories, modeling, external consistency, and triangulation—catalyze theory development.

Keywords:
Cognitive scienceEvidenceExplanationTheoretical virtuesTheory developmentUnderdetermination

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary science
  • Cognitive science
  • Anthropology

Background:

  • Sparse and indirect empirical evidence presents significant challenges for theory development in many scientific fields.
  • Theories on the evolution of human cognition serve as a key example, focusing on evolutionary processes in human ancestors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To distill virtuous practices for scientific theory development when faced with sparse or indirect evidence.
  • To demonstrate how such evidence can catalyze, rather than inhibit, scientific progress.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of theoretical and empirical work in the evolution of human cognition.
  • Identification and distillation of five key practices for handling limited evidence.

Main Results:

  • Five virtuous practices were identified: making assumptions explicit, making alternative theories explicit, pursuing computational and formal modeling, seeking external consistency, and triangulating evidence.
  • These practices can help overcome challenges posed by sparse and indirect evidence.

Conclusions:

  • Sparse and indirect evidence can stimulate scientific theory development.
  • The identified practices offer a framework applicable to various scientific domains facing similar evidential limitations.