Randers, Jorgen, "A Framework for Discussion of Model Conceptualization", 1976
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The process of attaining a useful model embraces the conceptualization, formulation, and testing stages. This paper argues that effective conceptualization can be achieved through a dynamic hypothesis (that is, a chosen time development of interest and hypotheses about the underlying mechanisms). The resulting rough, conceptual model should then be improved gradually through a recursive procedure where the model is tested, redesigned and tested again, in as many ways as possible and as long as is feasible. The paper attempts to structure the hazy topic of model construction by defining a number of terms and presents lists of dysfunctional tendencies in and guidelines for model construction.