11.2 Model selection tools

Here, we discuss a few different approaches to model selection. As always, I know it is hard to believe, but there is some controversy as to which method of model selection is best for a given situation. We’ll cover three types of model selection: stepwise selection, all possible subsets, and a priori subsets. While a priori model selection is generally preferred for most applications in biology and ecology, step-wise selection is widely used for phylogenetic analyses and all subsets regressions may be useful for some exploratory studies sometimes if that is really the only choice you have you can tell I don’t like this one. Therefore, we will briefly discuss all subsets before demonstrating stepwise selection and moving with commonly used a priori tools for the rest of the semester.