Why statistical testing and confidence intervals should not be used in comparative life cycle assessments based on Monte Carlo simulations

Abstract

In the last years, it has been suggested to use statistical inferential methods, such as hypothesis testing or confidence intervals, to compare different products, services, or systems within comparative life cycle assessments based on Monte Carlo simulation results. However, the use of statistical inferential methods in such settings is fundamentally incorrect and should not be continued. In this article, we explain why and look closer at some related topics.

Keywords

Statistical hypothesis testing; Inferential statistics; Monte Carlo simulations; Uncertainty; Paired simulations

Published in

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
2020, Volume: 25, number: 11, pages: 2101-2105 Publisher: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

SLU Authors

• von Brömssen, Claudia

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Röös, Elin

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Probability Theory and Statistics


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-020-01827-4

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/108256