The article suggests that a higher percentage of people choosing the "cooperate" option means that the model in question does a better job explaining. Explaining is the article author's chosen word. But maybe you are right that the author is missing the point, I'm not sure.
But even that's a tough sell for me, since the ideas you suggest as substitutes for the term "explain" are things I would put under the umbrella of what is meant by explaining.
But even that's a tough sell for me, since the ideas you suggest as substitutes for the term "explain" are things I would put under the umbrella of what is meant by explaining.