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Research article2020Peer reviewedOpen access

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

von Bromssen, Claudia; Roos, Elin

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