TY - CHAP
T1 - Quality criteria for mathematical models in relation to models' purposes
T2 - Their usefulness in higher engineering eduaction
AU - Perrenet, Jacob
AU - Zwaneveld, Bert
AU - Van Overveld, Kees
AU - Borghuis, Tijn
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - A taxonomy of eight quality criteria for mathematical models was developed for the common basic modelling course in the innovated BSc curriculum of the Eindhoven University of Technology. First year engineering students of all disciplines reflected on their modelling group projects, answering the question how their models could be improved, using the criteria. The students were also asked to indicate the purpose(s) of their models from a list of 16 purposes. This study explores the purposes’ and criteria’s usefulness, defined as relevance combined with understandability. The purpose of optimization proved to be most relevant, followed by analysis, prediction (what), and verification.The criteria of specialization, genericity, scalability, distinctiveness, and convincingness proved to be useful, the criteria of audience, impact, and surprise did not.
AB - A taxonomy of eight quality criteria for mathematical models was developed for the common basic modelling course in the innovated BSc curriculum of the Eindhoven University of Technology. First year engineering students of all disciplines reflected on their modelling group projects, answering the question how their models could be improved, using the criteria. The students were also asked to indicate the purpose(s) of their models from a list of 16 purposes. This study explores the purposes’ and criteria’s usefulness, defined as relevance combined with understandability. The purpose of optimization proved to be most relevant, followed by analysis, prediction (what), and verification.The criteria of specialization, genericity, scalability, distinctiveness, and convincingness proved to be useful, the criteria of audience, impact, and surprise did not.
KW - purposes of modelling
KW - optimization
KW - analysis
KW - prediction
KW - verification
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-319-62968-1_12
DO - 10.1007/978-3-319-62968-1_12
M3 - Chapter
SN - 9783319629674
T3 - International Perspectives on the Teaching and Learning of Mathematical Modelling
SP - 141
EP - 152
BT - Mathematical Modelling and Applications
A2 - Stillman, Gloria Ann
A2 - Kaiser, Gabriele
A2 - Blum, Werner
PB - Springer International Publishing AG
ER -