etterprøvbart

Etterprøvbart is a term used in contemporary scholarship to describe the status of a claim that can be verified after initial observation through retrospective analysis or the accumulation of additional data. In practice, something is etterprøvbart if independent researchers can apply alternative methods, reanalyze existing data, or inspect audit trails to confirm or challenge the original conclusion.

Etymology and meaning: The word combines the Norwegian prefix etter- meaning "after" with prøvbart, itself derived from prøve "to test" and -bart indicating ability. It is used primarily in discussions of scientific methodology, data analysis, and forensic investigation to distinguish evidence that can be tested post hoc from results that are only verifiable in the moment of discovery.

Definition and usage: The concept covers retrospective verification, replication efforts, and posthoc auditability. For example, a statistical finding may be etterprøvbart if a later analysis with the same data or new data reproduces the result, or if an audit trail allows a third party to reconstruct the decision process leading to the conclusion.

Relation to other concepts: Etterprøvbart relates to verifiability, reproducibility, and falsifiability, but emphasizes the post hoc aspect of verification rather than prospective testing alone. It is sometimes contrasted with real-time falsifiability in fast-changing fields.

See also: Verifiability, Reproducibility, Fraud prevention, Post hoc analysis, Audit trail.

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