 It is often the case that researchers do not know whether or not the idiosyncratic beta exists, or its strengths, and thus uniformity is essential for inferences.
<clarity>  It is often the case that researchers do not know whether or not the idiosyncratic beta exists, or its strengths, and thus uniformity is essential for inferences.
 It is often the case that researchers do not know whether or not the latter exists, or its strengths, and thus uniformity is essential for inferences.