cores/objects/models-hypotheses.html

Models and Hypotheses in Environmental Science

1. Definitions

theory - considerable evidence

hypothesis - implies a lack of proof and suggests a particular explanation which can be tested

model - stylized representation of the overall system, models are tools for evaluating hypotheses but they are not hypotheses

 

2. Using models

simple - use to gain insight

busier - use to fit the particular situation and predict

 

3. Multiple models/multiple hypotheses

use multiple hypotheses with strong inference - try to differentiate between choices

confront multiple models with data and assess the likelihood of each model (one might be 50% and the other 75%), neither is "correct".

 

NOTES: