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Study planning is better served by Monte Carlo simulation than AI-generated participants

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ‘Silicon samples’, AI-generated synthetic data based on demographic profiles, have been proposed to help plan research. Here, I argue that Monte Carlo simulation already does this job transparently, and that generative AI is better used to help write such simulations.

Source: Communications Psychology

DOI: 10.1038/s44271-026-00556-y

Author: Jamie Cummins

Institutions: University of Bern, University of Oxford

Language: English

Topic: Statistical Methods and Bayesian Inference

Subfield: Statistics and Probability

Field: Mathematics

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,090

OpenAlex ID: W7171809619

FWCI:

Cites: 10

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Related to: 10