Contra Epstein, Good Explanations Predict

Epstein has argued that an explanation\'s capacity to make predictions should play a minor role in its evaluation . This view contradicts centuries of scientific practice and, at least, decades of philosophy of science. We argue that the view is not only unfounded but seems to arise from a mistaken fear that ABM models are in need of defense against the criticism that they don\'t necessarily forecast events in the natural or social world.ABM, Agent Based Model, Modeling, Prediction, Explanation, Philosophy of Science

A System for Describing Bird Song Units

Bird song researchers have not agreed on a common set of units of analysis by which birds\u27 songs of various different species might be described. Analysis of 50 papers reveals 28 unit designations and considerable variation in their application despite only three different methods for identifying units. The lack of consensus on units arises from the fact that units generated by the same methods at different levels of organization are given different names. A method for designating bird song units is offered for discussion which uses the concept of level of organization to stress the fundamental unanimity of method. It is hoped that consideration of this method will lead ultimately to greater standardization in the protocols by which researchers generate and name bird song units

Levels of Organization in the Song of the Bobolink (Icteridae: Dolichonyginae)

By comparison with other icterids, the bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) sings an unusually long and complex song. The songs of four male bobolinks were analysed in terms of units at four different levels of analysis: the figure, the figure-sequence, the song-pattern, and the song. The different levels of analysis show different degrees of stereotypy and variation. Individual males in the study area differed in the frequency of use of the different song-patterns and in the way they assembled them into songs. Immediate repetition of song patterns within a song was unusual. Songs sung from fixed perches were shorter than songs sung in flight. The results suggest that the length of bobolink song is in part a consequence of its use of the song as a part of an elaborate flight display, and that the unit we called the “song-pattern” was closest to the unit designated “song” in most other species