Perusolettamat

Perusolettamat (singular perusolettama) are the fundamental starting assumptions that underlie a model, theory, or line of argument. They describe the conditions that are taken to hold in the scenario being analyzed and are treated as given in order to enable analysis, deduction, or statistical inference. Perusolettamat may be stated explicitly in a methods section or remain implicit in how a model is formulated.

These assumptions serve to simplify complex reality, delimit the scope of inquiry, and provide a framework within which conclusions can be drawn. They influence what results appear plausible and how findings are interpreted. Common examples include assumptions of rational behavior and perfect competition in economic models, ceteris paribus conditions in causal reasoning, and statistical assumptions such as independence or identical distribution of errors.

Perusolettamat are not hypotheses to be tested in the same way as empirical predictions; instead, they define the structure of the analysis. Researchers identify key perusolettamat, justify them on theoretical or practical grounds, and examine how sensitive results are to relaxing them through robustness or sensitivity analyses. Implicit assumptions should be scrutinized to assess external validity and applicability in different contexts.

Critics warn that overly strong or unrealistic perusolettamat can bias conclusions and limit generalizability. Transparency about the assumptions, and an explicit discussion of the consequences of alternative assumptions, are standard practices in rigorous analysis. See also assumption, model, and hypothesis.