Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 October 2025
A valid model is one whether the inferences drawn from it are true. Many factors can threaten the validity of a model including imprecise or inaccurate measurements, bias in study design or in sampling, and misspecification of the model itself.
A key way to validate a model is to replicate the findings with new data. The best method of replication is collecting new data. However, when that is not possible, it is possible to perform a replicate by dividing the sample using a split-group, jackknife, or bootstrap method. Of these 3 methods, split-group is the strongest but requires a dataset large enough to split your sample. A bootstrap is the weakest method of replication, but produces more valid confidence intervals than a simple model.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.