Intro to Models and Modeling

M. Drew LaMar
August 29, 2016

“To try to make a model of an atom by studying its spectrum is like trying to make a model of a grand piano by listening to the noise it makes when thrown downstairs.”

- Anonymous

Introduction to Quantitative Biology, Fall 2016

Class announcements

  • Office hours (ISC 3252)
    • Mondays, 2-3 pm
    • Fridays, 9:30-10:30 am
  • Homework due dates changed to Monday, 11:59 pm
  • Reading assignment for Wednesday: OpenIntro Stats, Chapter 4: Foundations for Inference

Science misconceptions

“In fact, the Scientific Method represents how scientists usually write up the results of their studies (and how a few investigations are actually done), but it is a grossly oversimplified representation of how scientists generally build knowledge.”
- Understanding Science

Misconception #1: Rigid Workflow

University of California Museum of Paleontology’s Understanding Science (http://www.understandingscience.org)

Difference is between how how science is done versus how science is reported.

Misconception #1: Rigid Workflow

University of California Museum of Paleontology’s Understanding Science (http://www.understandingscience.org)

Misconception #1: Rigid Workflow

Asteroids and dinosaurs: Unexpected twists and an unfinished story
(PDF version)

University of California Museum of Paleontology’s Understanding Science (http://www.understandingscience.org)

Misconception #2: Hypothesis vs Theory

“…hypotheses, theories, and laws are rather like apples, oranges, and kumquats: one cannot grow into another, no matter how much fertilizer and water are offered.”
- Understanding Science

Misconception #2: Hypothesis vs Theory

“Hypotheses, theories, and laws are all scientific explanations that differ in breadth — not in level of support.”
- Understanding Science

Misconception #2: Hypothesis vs Theory

Hypothesis: Hypotheses are explanations that are limited in scope, applying to fairly narrow range of phenomena.

Theory: Theories are deep explanations that apply to a broad range of phenomena and that may integrate many hypotheses and laws.

Misconception #3: Scientific "proof"

“Science is based on the principle that any idea, no matter how widely accepted today, could be overturned tomorrow if the evidence warranted it. Science accepts or rejects ideas based on the evidence; it does not prove or disprove them.”
- Understanding Science

Is math science?

Science

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POS vs POMM

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Class Activity: What's in the box?

Models and Modeling

Discuss: What is a model?

Models and Modeling

Question: Is this a model?

Models and Modeling

Question: Is this a model?

Models and Modeling

Question: Is this a model?

Models and Modeling

Question: Is this a model?

Models and Modeling

Question: Is this a model?

Models and Modeling

Discuss: What are the components of a model?

Answer:

  • Objects (nouns)
  • Processes or relationships (verbs)
  • Simplified, abstract/concrete (adjectives)
  • Function (use case) - Not strictly necessary for the definition of a model. This answers the “Why model?” question.

Definition: A model is a simplified, abstract (or concrete) representation of objects and their relationships and/or processes in the real world.