Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Five ways to ensure that models serve society: a manifesto

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

The five ways are (quoted):

  • Mind the assumptions... Models are often imported from other applications, ignoring how assumptions that are reasonable in one situation can become nonsensical in another.
  • Mind the hubris... The complexity of a model is not always an indicator of how well it captures the important features.
  • Mind the framing... Results from models will at least partly reflect the interests, disciplinary orientations and biases of the developers.
  • Mind the consequences... Quantification can backfire... Undiscriminating use of statistical tests can substitute for sound judgement.
  • Mind the unknowns... Acknowledge ignorance... Failure to acknowledge this can artificially limit the policy options and open the door to undesired surprises.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
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Last Updated: Apr 26, 2024 02:21 a.m.

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