The Systems Medicine Seminar welcomes Dr. Karoline Huth, hosted by Dr. Cory Brunson.
Presenter: Karoline Huth, Postdoctoral Researcher
Affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University
Title: Statistical Evidence in Psychological Networks
Abstract: Psychometric network models are widely used in psychology and the social sciences to study complex systems of interacting variables. Network edges are often interpreted as meaningful relationships, yet the uncertainty underlying these interpretations is rarely made explicit. In this talk, I show how Bayesian methods can be used to quantify uncertainty in network models and what this reveals about the robustness of published network findings. Drawing on a large-scale reanalysis of nearly 300 psychometric networks from the literature, I demonstrate that for most reported edges, the available data provide insufficient evidence to confidently determine whether an association is present or absent. Only a small subset of edges is strongly supported, while networks estimated from larger samples yield substantially more reliable conclusions. This talk will provide practical insight into how Bayesian approaches can be used to assess robustness in network models and how researchers can better interpret and report network results in applied research.
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 9:00 AM Eastern Time
Venue: This presenter will be conducting the seminar virtually via Zoom. Join by Zoom or in MSB Room M-434, the LSM Conference Room.