Voje, KL, Saulsbury, JG, Starrfelt, J, Latorre, DV, Rojas, A, Kinneberg, VB, Liow, LH, Wilson, CJ, Saupe, EE and Grabowski, M (2023) Measurement theory and paleobiology. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 38 (12). pp. 1165-1176. ISSN 0169-5347

Preview

Text PIIS0169534723002161.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Measurement theory, a branch of applied mathematics, offers guiding principles for extracting meaning from empirical observations and is applicable to any science involving measurements. Measurement theory is highly relevant in paleobiology because statistical approaches assuming ratio-scaled variables are commonly used on data belonging to nominal and ordinal scale types. We provide an informal introduction to representational measurement theory and argue for its importance in robust scientific inquiry. Although measurement theory is widely applicable in paleobiology research, we use the study of disparity to illustrate measurement theoretical challenges in the quantitative study of the fossil record. Respecting the inherent properties of different measurements enables meaningful inferences about evolutionary and ecological processes from paleontological data.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Paleontology; Fossils; Biological Evolution; evolutionary biology; fossil record; meaningfulness; scale type; theoretical context; Biological Evolution; Paleontology; Fossils; 05 Environmental Sciences; 06 Biological Sciences; Evolutionary Biology
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) Q Science > QA Mathematics Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QE Geology > QE701 Paleontology
Divisions:	Biological & Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Cell Press
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	19 Mar 2024 12:09
Last Modified:	19 Mar 2024 12:15
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.tree.2023.08.005
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/22845

View Item