Lecture F3 (2022-11-15): Chapter 10, Model Validity, Mental Models, and Learning (Morecroft, 2015)

In this lecture, we review the Chapter 10 of Morecroft (2015), which revisits a discussion of the function of models and discusses methods of building confidence in (simulation) models. We connect Morecroft's message to similar messages from Frank Keil (on formal models/theories and the shallows of explanation). We also discuss how tangible models that Morecroft describes as "transitional objects" can also be viewed as "boundary objects" on interdisciplinary teams. We discuss different ways of verifying, validating, and calibrating models. This lets us discuss things like boundary adequacy and structural adequacy, which are important to designing the high-level architecture of a model. We close with a discussion of how ultimately we build the most confidence in models when those models result in us learning something about a system.