Models

Abstract

Scientific models play an important role in theory construction. This has been frequent in the history of science, in all disciplines. We saw the importance of Newton’s gravitational model of the Copernican solar system in constructing the theory of physical mechanics. We saw the importance of Watson and Crick’s model of DNA in the construction of the theory of molecular biology. We next look in detail at how modeling as a research technique plays the critical role of connecting empiricism to theory, and experiments to theory construction and validation.