The Duhem-Quine thesis and experimental economics: A reinterpretation

Arbeitspapier

The Duhem-Quine thesis asserts that any empirical evaluation of a theory is in fact a composite test of several interconnected hypotheses. Recalcitrant evidence signals falsity within the conjunction of hypotheses, but logic alone cannot pinpoint the individual element(s) inside the theoretical cluster responsible for a false prediction. This paper considers the relevance of the Duhem-Quine thesis for experimental economics. A starting point is to detail how laboratory evaluations of economic hypotheses constitute composite tests. Another aim is to scrutinize the strategy of conducting a series of experiments in order to hem in the source(s) of disconfirmative evidence. A Bayesian approach is employed to argue that reproducing experiments is not necessarily useful in terms of identifying correct causes of recalcitrant data.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Memorandum ; No. 2002,21

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Economic Methodology ; Design of Experiments: General
• Subject: Experimental economics ; methodology ; Duhem-Quine thesis ; Test ; Theorie

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Søberg, Morten
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): University of Oslo, Department of Economics
• (where): Oslo
• (when): 2002

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/62975
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET