Is a more realistic model always better?

Answer 1

A more realistic model is not always better, as it can introduce unnecessary complexity that may lead to overfitting, where the model captures noise rather than underlying patterns. Additionally, a simpler model can often provide clearer insights and better generalization to unseen data. Ultimately, the best model balances realism with interpretability and predictive accuracy, depending on the specific context and goals of the analysis. Thus, the effectiveness of a model should be evaluated based on its performance rather than its realism alone.