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(Conceptual) Models Simulations of real-world systems one is trying to understand – a representation which mirrors, duplicates, imitates, or illustrates the pattern of relationships observed.
Conceptual models describe the essential features† of a phenomenon under study, identifying its principal processes and: àdefine the phenomenon in terms of specific observations, analysis, and valid simulations; àdescribe the phenomenon’s phases or patterns of behaviour in terms of appearance, size, intensity, and other recognizable and relevant characteristics; àset out the nature of the processes controlling the phenomenon which enables an understanding of the factors determining or influencing changes in the phenomenon such as mode and rate of development; àspecify the key phenomenal states involved in the principal processes;
and àprovide a guide for predicted conditions or situations through the use of diagnostic and prognostic tools discriminating between important variables and their effects upon the phenomenon’s behaviour.
A street map is a very basic example of a conceptual model. Even though the map does not comprise a comprehensive depiction of every facet of the streetscape the properties it represents are those relevant to the purpose maps serve: navigating in a given geographical area and locating specific places or points (in the world) within the area represented. Some of the properties of maps are the relative positions of the streets, where the streets intersect with each other, the directions of the streets, distances or measurements and a scale of the area shown*, and the street and place names, etc.
Sometimes models are conflated with the slices of reality they are constructed to (imperfectly) represent, and are distinct from these real-world systems they can successfully explain and predict – the more closely the models’ predictions correspond with observational or experimental results the better and more realistic the model.
†included in the representation will be only those properties and relationships pertinent to the aspects of the system which are our current focus for understanding – other details or inconsequential information which might otherwise overwhelm the attempt to understand the particular behaviour under examination are left out.
*and if for traffic use might indicate such things as one way or narrow streets, single-lane bridges, overhead clearances, and so forth.
(see also: construct, science, scientific approach, scientific methodology, pseudo-science, systematic evidence, evolution, anecdotal evidence, operational definition, critical thinking, theory (scientific), falsifiability, testability)
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