Re: [Harp-L] comb test

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I never said that the null hypothesis can or will be proved--nothing  
I've written should be interpreted that way, if it was then I should  
have been clearer.

If test after test (imperfect as they may be) fails to show that  
people can hear a difference due to comb materials, that is not  
insignificant, as you seem to be saying.  It means that people can't  
be shown to hear a difference.  The practical usage of this is that  
we cannot say comb material is a contributing factor to tone--there  
is no evidence to support that statement.  If my wording has been  
unclear on that, I apologize.

Since you like analogies, I'd suggest that the one I am thinking of  
is Bertrand Russell's cosmic teapot.  We can never prove it exists,  
but there is no evidence to suggest such a thing.




JR Ross