Editing 2323: Modeling Study
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
+ | {{incomplete|Created by an ABSTRACTLY MODELED BOT. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
In this comic, a humorous comparison is drawn between two common types of scientific studies: {{w|empirical research}}, where an experiment is designed to test a scientific theory, and {{w|mathematical modeling}}, where mathematical formulations are produced to predict how physical systems behave under given circumstances. In empirical studies, hard questions about the limitations of existing theory tend to be addressed in the abstract, which is the brief summary of the paper that is presented at the beginning of most scientific articles. In modeling studies, assumptions based on existing theory are built into the model, and any problems associated with these assumptions tend to be discussed in the methods section, which outlines the design of an experiment in the case of an empirical study, or how the model was designed and the reasoning behind the choices made in the case of a modeling study. In the empirical study, the proverbial "big red problem box" is stated up-front where everyone who finds the paper will read it, while in the modeling study, it's buried in the middle of the paper, where it's less likely to be read. | In this comic, a humorous comparison is drawn between two common types of scientific studies: {{w|empirical research}}, where an experiment is designed to test a scientific theory, and {{w|mathematical modeling}}, where mathematical formulations are produced to predict how physical systems behave under given circumstances. In empirical studies, hard questions about the limitations of existing theory tend to be addressed in the abstract, which is the brief summary of the paper that is presented at the beginning of most scientific articles. In modeling studies, assumptions based on existing theory are built into the model, and any problems associated with these assumptions tend to be discussed in the methods section, which outlines the design of an experiment in the case of an empirical study, or how the model was designed and the reasoning behind the choices made in the case of a modeling study. In the empirical study, the proverbial "big red problem box" is stated up-front where everyone who finds the paper will read it, while in the modeling study, it's buried in the middle of the paper, where it's less likely to be read. | ||
− | The caption opens like a typical statement in favor of modeling studies, "A mathematical model is a powerful tool for taking hard problems," but while a researcher who works with models might go on to say "...and breaking them down," or "...and studying them in ways that would be impractical for empirical studies," Randall concludes that they can't actually make hard problems any easier. His title text, "You've got questions, we've got assumptions," plays on the | + | The caption opens like a typical statement in favor of modeling studies, "A mathematical model is a powerful tool for taking hard problems," but while a researcher who works with models might go on to say "...and breaking them down," or "...and studying them in ways that would be impractical for empirical studies," Randall concludes that they can't actually make hard problems any easier. His title text, "You've got questions, we've got assumptions," plays on the usual platitude of "You've got questions, we've got answers" by pointing out that any answers provided are built on assumptions by the modelers. In other words, {{w|garbage in, garbage out}}. |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | |
:[There are two columns.] | :[There are two columns.] | ||
− | :[The column on the left is a piece of paper labeled "Empirical Study". The paper consists of the sections "Abstract", "Introduction", "Methods", "Results", and "Discussion". Each section consists of several horizontal lines meant to represent blocks of text | + | :[The column on the left is a piece of paper labeled "Empirical Study". The paper consists of the sections "Abstract", "Introduction", "Methods", "Results", and "Discussion". Each section consists of several horizontal lines meant to represent blocks of text. In the middle of the "Abstract" section, there is a large red rectangle. Inside this rectangle is the word "Problem" in large red letters.] |
− | :[The column on the right is a piece of paper labeled "Modeling Study". It consists of the same sections | + | :[The column on the right is a piece of paper labeled "Modeling Study". It consists of the same sections, but the large red rectangle with the word "Problem" is in the "Methods" section instead of the "Abstract" section.] |
− | :[There is a curvy | + | :[There is a curvy arrow pointing from the red box in the paper on the left to the red box in the paper on the right.] |
:[Caption below the panel:] | :[Caption below the panel:] | ||
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[[Category:Science]] | [[Category:Science]] | ||
[[Category:Math]] | [[Category:Math]] | ||
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Research Papers]] |
[[Category:Comics with color]] | [[Category:Comics with color]] |