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The case for sensitivity: a response to Grant and Kluge
Author(s) -
Giribet Gonzalo,
Wheeler Ward C.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
cladistics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.323
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1096-0031
pISSN - 0748-3007
DOI - 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2007.00146.x
Subject(s) - mathematics , mathematical economics , heuristic , computer science , criticism , mathematical optimization , law , political science
Recently, Grant and Kluge (2005) have criticized sensitivity analysis sensu Wheeler (1995) and its justification by Giribet (2003). Grant and Kluge state that sensitivity analysis ‘‘is neither scientific nor heuristic’’ (p. 603), and therefore ‘‘remains a method in search of scientific justification.’’ (p. 603). Much of Grant and Kluge’s criticism is based on their personal views (‘‘our philosophy’’ p. 598) and their definitions of science and scientific utility. This leads them to a series of assertions by which other methods, in this case sensitivity analysis, are evaluated. Certainly, these methods may come up short in their eyes, but that is not of universal concern (e.g.,Miller andHormiga, 2004). Yet clearly our arguments have not been sufficiently precise. Here we will try to remedy this shortcoming.