What is a null model?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the concept of a null model, which is typically used in statistical analysis and hypothesis testing to serve as a baseline or reference point. It's important to understand its role in evaluating the significance of observed data or effects.
Answer
A simple model used as a baseline to compare more complex models.
A null model is a simple model used as a baseline to compare the performance of more complex models by specifying that certain effects (parameters) are absent or are the result of random processes.
Answer for screen readers
A null model is a simple model used as a baseline to compare the performance of more complex models by specifying that certain effects (parameters) are absent or are the result of random processes.
More Information
Null models help understand if the observed data significantly differ from what is expected under randomness or the absence of certain factors.
Tips
A common mistake is misunderstanding that a null model predicts no effect rather than serves as a method to test other models' performance against randomness.
Sources
- What is a null model in regression and how does it relate to the null hypothesis - stats.stackexchange.com
- Null model - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- Chapter 2 The Null Model | Step by Step I: Linear Models - Bookdown - bookdown.org
