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| The pursuit of the authenticity of ecological experiments——Based on validity, accuracy, and precision considerations |
| XIAO Xianjing |
| Institute of Philosophy, School of Public Administration, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China |
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Abstract: In traditional scientific experiments, validity, accuracy, and precision correspond to authenticity. However, in ecological experiment the situation is quite different and only by ensuring validity can we obtain authenticity. In light of this, we should strive to ensure that the "concept of measurement" is covered but not overlapped with the "concept of research" or "concept of imaginary" in the experimental process, and measuring real things in the process of establishing the validity of ecological experiments. Accuracy corresponds to authenticity, however, in ecological experiments, the "true" reference value is difficult to obtain. Even the acquisition may not be reliable, thus improving technical performance of the instrument, improving the operating flow of experiment, and adopting other methods such as "blank value" test are required. It is necessary to improve accuracy in an effort to obtain accurate results, or qualitatively determine whether or to what extent the experimental data in the ecological measurement are accurate, according to the relevant theoretical and empirical analysis. Precision is positively related to reliability. In ecological experiment, precision should be increased to guarantee reliability, otherwise, even if the true experimental result is obtained, it may not be believed due to poor precision (reliability). Generally, for different types of ecological experiments, from mathematical models to digital organisms to artificial life systems (cosmological experiments) and finally to the natural system that is not disturbed or processed, the complexity is increasing, the precision is decreasing and the authenticity is getting worse. Therefore, we must select the appropriate type of experiment and weigh the precision and authenticity of the experiment with case study.
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Received: 21 May 2018
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2018, Vol. 36 
