Doing Bayesian Data Analysis: Bayesian models of mind, psychometric models, and data analytic models

Bayesian methods can be used in general data-analytic models, in psychometric models, and in models of mind. In all three applications, there is Bayesian estimation of parameter values in a model. What differs between models is the source of the data and the meaning (semantic referent) of the parameters, as described in the diagram below: As an example of a generic data-analytic model, consider data about ice cream sales and sleeve lengths, measured at different times of year. A linear regression model might show a negative slope for the line that describes a trend in the scatter of points. But the slope does not necessarily describe anything in the processes that generated the ice cream sales and sleeve lengths.