Accession Number:
AD0276946
Title:
THE COMPUTER AS A TOOL FOR THEORY DEVELOPMENT
Descriptive Note:
Corporate Author:
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CORP SANTA MONICA CALIF
Personal Author(s):
Report Date:
1962-06-05
Pagination or Media Count:
1.0
Abstract:
Research involving computer simulation not only plays the passive role of verifying and testing theory it performs active functions for the development of theory. Formulating a theory as a computer model affords one a relatively tractable representation and possibly a more meaningful conceptualization, having increased precision as a result of the clarification of concepts necessitated by the programming process. Furthermore, a unique opportunity is provided by the modern digital computers capacity to generate the programmed models dynamic implications. In a computer run investigating a theorys processes it is not unlikely that unanticipated, anomalous, and strategic data may result and become the occasion for developing a new theory or for extending the existing model. Author