Informal Qualitative Models: A Systematic Approach to their Generation

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Abstract

This paper discusses the concept of an IQM (Informal Qualitative Model) which is seen as a bridge between rigorous, and often intractable, theories on the one hand, and experimental data on the other. We argue that the selection of variables to be explored using quantitative law discovery should be made using background knowledge. However, domain theories are often intractable, and to make progress it is therefore necessary to add assumptions; i.e. one is forced to take particular and often simplifying, perspectives on the domain. IQMs essentially capture these ideas. This paper demonstrates how a set of IQMs for a domain (colligative properties of solutions) can generated from a base IQM and a set of operators.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of AAAI 1995 Spring Symposium on Systematic Methods of Scientific Discovery
EditorsRaul Valdes-Perez
PublisherAAAI Press
Pages18-22
Number of pages5
VolumeSS-95-03
ISBN (Print)0-929280-86-5
Publication statusPublished - 1995

Keywords

  • scientific discovery
  • computational model
  • chemistry

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