ABSTRACT
Bayesian Hypothesis Testing and the
Bayes Factor
7.1 Motivation
This chapter systematically explores the similarities and dierences be-
tween Bayesian and non-Bayesian perspectives on hypothesis testing, and
describes the Bayes factor as the evidence of the quality of one model spec-
ication over another. We start with a general discussion of the state of
hypothesis testing in the social and behavioral sciences and outline where
Bayesian posterior descriptions can replace a number of problematic prac-
tices.