@article{ref1,
title="The role of theory for understanding and preventing suicide (but not predicting it): a commentary on Hjelmeland and Knizek",
journal="Death studies",
year="2019",
author="Klonsky, E. David",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="1-4",
abstract="Hjelmeland and Knizek suggest that parsimonious theory is inappropriate for explaining a highly complex and contextual phenomenon like suicide. Similar suggestions have been made by others. In this commentary, I counter that the pursuit of parsimonious theory is at the core of any scientific enterprise, including health sciences and suicide science. Using examples from physics and psychology, I illustrate that parsimonious theories have been essential for understanding highly complex and contextual phenomena like the motion of objects and the behavior of people. I further illustrate that these theories, despite their undeniable validity and enormous utility, have limited value for predicting future real-world events; thus, it is important not to conflate valid theory with a highly accurate prediction of the future. To conclude, I offer suggestions for better evaluating and advancing suicide theory, and I affirm that the pursuit of parsimonious suicide theory is important and worthwhile, and must continue.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0748-1187",
doi="10.1080/07481187.2019.1594005",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2019.1594005"
}