Models with higher effective dimensions tend to produce more uncertain estimates

Arnald Puy, Pierfrancesco Beneventano, Simon A. Levin, Samuele Lo Piano, Tommaso Portaluri, Andrea Saltelli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mathematical models are getting increasingly detailed to better predict phenomena or gain more accurate insights into the dynamics of a system of interest, even when there are no validation or training data available. Here, we show through ANOVA and statistical theory that this practice promotes fuzzier estimates because it generally increases the model’s effective dimensions, i.e., the number of influential parameters and the weight of high-order interactions. By tracking the evolution of the effective dimensions and the output uncertainty at each model upgrade stage, modelers can better ponder whether the addition of detail truly matches the model’s purpose and the quality of the data fed into it.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbereabn9450
JournalScience Advances
Volume8
Issue number42
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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