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Modeling

These papers discuss the nature of modeling, which I believe to be one of the most fundamental functions of the human mind.

My major publications on this subject are:

The Nature of Modeling (pdf) This paper discusses the nature of modeling. It introduces a view of modeling based on three criteria, which I call Reference, Purpose, and Cost-Effectiveness (abbreviated RPC-E). In this view, every model cost-effectively represents some real world referent for some cognitive purpose. The cost-effectiveness criterion demands that it be preferable (easier, or cheaper, or safer, etc.) to use the model for the given purpose than to use the model's real-world referent.

Prototyping as Modeling (pdf) This paper explores the use of prototyping in software development. In the course of this discussion, it refines and expands the RPC-E view of modeling introduced in The Nature of Modeling (pdf). It then introduces a modeling view of the prototyping process.