Conceptual Modeling - Revision history

Andy Culbertson: v0.2.0: Reduced to a bullet point, summary format. Added rationales. Replaced my existing, haphazard method with the outline of a more principled one.

2019-08-16T02:52:26Z

v0.2.0: Reduced to a bullet point, summary format. Added rationales. Replaced my existing, haphazard method with the outline of a more principled one.

Show changes

Andy Culbertson: Updated the contents to match the change from analysis to conceptual modeling. Added a version number.

2018-06-20T18:14:23Z

Updated the contents to match the change from analysis to conceptual modeling. Added a version number.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:14, 20 June 2018
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	The purpose of this article is to ~~spell out the~~ method of ~~analysis~~ I've ~~developed~~ over the years. The purpose of doing that is to help myself use the method more often and with a more thorough and consistent procedure and to come up with ways to teach it to anyone who's interested.		Version 0.1.0, 6/20/2018

			The purpose of this article is to develop a method of conceptual modeling based on the techniques I've practiced over the years. The purpose of doing that is to help myself use the method more often and with a more thorough and consistent procedure and to come up with ways to teach it to anyone who's interested.

	The article is a work in progress, as is the method.		The article is a work in progress, as is the method.
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	== Definition ==		== Definition ==

	~~I'm calling this article "Analysis," because~~ that's the ~~term I usually use~~, but ~~I hardly ever think about analysis on its own. My idea of analysis pulls along with~~ it ~~synthesis, in the form~~ of ~~modeling and systems thinking. But I use the term analysis to cover all of it.~~		Conceptual modeling is a process of clarifying the structure and dynamics of a system of concepts that describe a situation. Procedurally the process takes different forms, but logically it divides into two types of activities--separating the subject matter into its components in analysis, and reassembling the parts by identifying their relationships in synthesis.

	~~Traditionally analysis is seen as being about conceptually taking apart~~ the subject matter~~, separating it~~ into its components, and ~~synthesis is about assembling~~ the parts~~. But with my question-asking approach, I really do both at about the same time. It's more a process of clarifying and exploring than disassembly and reassembly. I might rename the article modeling~~.

	== Goals ==		== Goals ==

	What are the goals of ~~analysis~~ in this method? There are two stages to think about in ~~an analytical~~ journey: the product of the ~~analysis~~ itself and the purposes that product can be used for.		What are the goals of modeling in this method? There are two stages to think about in a modeling journey: the product of the modeling itself and the purposes that product can be used for.

	The product I intend from ~~an analysis~~ is a model of the ~~object~~ I'm observing. The representation of the model can take various forms, such as a diagram, an essay, or a computer program. The model itself is an abstraction, though it will always have to take some form, if only as a set of ideas in the mind.		The product I intend from a modeling project is a model of the subject I'm observing. The representation of the model can take various forms, such as a diagram, an essay, or a computer program. The model itself is an abstraction, though it will always have to take some form, if only as a set of ideas in the mind.

	Another metaphor I use for this product is a map. This article, for example, is a representation of a map of my ~~analytical~~ method. This is appropriate for my journey metaphor.		Another metaphor I use for this product is a map. This article, for example, is a representation of a map of my modeling method. This is appropriate for my journey metaphor.

	The second stage of travel is the use you'll put the model to. To name some key examples, the model could be a basis for learning information or a skill, for creating other content, or for making a decision or solving a problem. In this case our purpose is to have a general ~~analytical~~ procedure to apply.		The second stage of travel is the use you'll put the model to. To name some key examples, the model could be a basis for learning information or a skill, for creating other content, or for making a decision or solving a problem. In this case our purpose is to have a general modeling procedure to apply.

	Why are we interested in knowing the goals of ~~analysis~~? First, the goal determines what aspects of the material we're ~~analyzing~~ are important. So it's key to defining the model and also to directing our attention and maximizing our use of time. In this case, these goals will define our model of ~~analysis~~.		Why are we interested in knowing the goals of modeling? First, the goal determines what aspects of the material we're modeling are important. So it's key to defining the model and also to directing our attention and maximizing our use of time. In this case, these goals will define our model of modeling.

	Second, knowing the point of what we're doing is a great motivator. Sometimes it can make the difference between persevering and giving up.		Second, knowing the point of what we're doing is a great motivator. Sometimes it can make the difference between persevering and giving up.

	== ~~Objects~~ of study ==		== Subjects of study ==

	Any ~~analysis~~ will have ~~an object~~ that's being ~~analyzed~~, which I'll call the ~~object~~ of study. It helps to survey what ~~objects~~ these can be. You can ~~analyze~~ just about anything. But you might not think of something as a thing that can be ~~analyzed~~. And when thinking through a general ~~analytical~~ procedure, your ideas about the procedure might be too limited if you don't keep in mind the range of possible ~~objects~~.		Any modeling project will have a subject that's being modeled, which I'll call the subject of study. It helps to survey what subjects these can be. You can model just about anything. But you might not think of something as a thing that can be modeled. And when thinking through a general modeling procedure, your ideas about the procedure might be too limited if you don't keep in mind the range of possible subjects.

	So what kinds of ~~analyzable~~ objects are there? They can be classified a number of ways that might affect the ways you ~~analyze~~ them. I'll list a few categories here that could be grouped and contrasted in various ways and an example or two of each: static (images) vs. dynamic (videos, procedures); concrete (concrete) vs. abstract (equations); individual (employees, birds) vs. collective (businesses, ecosystems); discrete (social networks) vs. continuous (temperatures); visual (dances), auditory (room acoustics), tactile (paper textures), textual (scientific articles), etc.; objective (nerve impulses) vs. subjective (intuitions, sensations); causal (geological processes) vs. purposeful (engines). Each ~~object~~ can be placed into more than one category.		So what kinds of modelable objects are there? They can be classified a number of ways that might affect the ways you model them. I'll list a few categories here that could be grouped and contrasted in various ways and an example or two of each: static (images) vs. dynamic (videos, procedures); concrete (concrete) vs. abstract (equations); individual (employees, birds) vs. collective (businesses, ecosystems); discrete (social networks) vs. continuous (temperatures); visual (dances), auditory (room acoustics), tactile (paper textures), textual (scientific articles), etc.; objective (nerve impulses) vs. subjective (intuitions, sensations); causal (geological processes) vs. purposeful (engines). Each subject can be placed into more than one category.

	Additionally, you'll be ~~analyzing~~ particular dimensions of the object depending on your purpose. For example, a film could be analyzed for its dialog, cinematography, music, acting, directing, its influences, impact on society, and so on.		Additionally, you'll be modeling particular dimensions of the object depending on your purpose. For example, a film could be analyzed for its dialog, cinematography, music, acting, directing, its influences, impact on society, and so on.

	== Representation ==		== Representation ==
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	== Procedure ==		== Procedure ==

	Here I'll describe my current ~~analytical~~ process. One main purpose of writing this essay is to work out a more refined version of this process, but I'll start with what I do now. That way I don't misrepresent myself too badly and I don't lose as much potentially useful information about the method.		Here I'll describe my current modeling process. One main purpose of writing this essay is to work out a more refined version of this process, but I'll start with what I do now. That way I don't misrepresent myself too badly and I don't lose as much potentially useful information about the method.

	=== Subject matter ===		=== Subject matter ===
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	The process starts when I run across a subject I feel the need to understand. Usually it's because I want to use it to do something, or I just feel confused by it. Sometimes I feel like it's something I ''should'' understand, as if no self-respecting me would remain ignorant of it (film criticism, for example, though I haven't gotten around to studying that one).		The process starts when I run across a subject I feel the need to understand. Usually it's because I want to use it to do something, or I just feel confused by it. Sometimes I feel like it's something I ''should'' understand, as if no self-respecting me would remain ignorant of it (film criticism, for example, though I haven't gotten around to studying that one).

	Sometimes it's a subject that comes from sources outside myself (e.g., memory improvement, math); sometimes the source is me (e.g., this ~~analytical~~ method, my religious beliefs).		Sometimes it's a subject that comes from sources outside myself (e.g., memory improvement, math); sometimes the source is me (e.g., this modeling method, my religious beliefs).

	My output mostly takes the form of writing, and it has two broad stages: processing (one or more rounds of notes and journaling, for lack of a better term) and communicating (one or more essays).		My output mostly takes the form of writing, and it has two broad stages: processing (one or more rounds of notes and journaling, for lack of a better term) and communicating (one or more essays).

Andy Culbertson: Andy Culbertson moved page Analysis to Conceptual Modeling: Renamed the page's topic.

2018-06-20T18:08:56Z

Andy Culbertson moved page Analysis to Conceptual Modeling: Renamed the page's topic.

← Older revision	Revision as of 18:08, 20 June 2018
(No difference)

Andy Culbertson: Added the "Potential sources" section.

2018-03-31T03:53:34Z

Added the "Potential sources" section.

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 * Incorporate a programming approach.
 * Develop arguments for studying modeling.
 [[Category:Essays]]
 [[Category:Developing]]
 [[Category:Philosophy]]

Andy Culbertson: Added the Procedure, Examples, and Roadmap sections.

2018-03-09T09:43:15Z

Added the Procedure, Examples, and Roadmap sections.

Show changes

Andy Culbertson: Added the Representation section.

2018-02-08T04:18:33Z

Added the Representation section.

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:18, 8 February 2018
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	Additionally, you'll be analyzing particular dimensions of the object depending on your purpose. For example, a film could be analyzed for its dialog, cinematography, music, acting, directing, its influences, impact on society, and so on.		Additionally, you'll be analyzing particular dimensions of the object depending on your purpose. For example, a film could be analyzed for its dialog, cinematography, music, acting, directing, its influences, impact on society, and so on.

			== Representation ==

			The models we build are abstractions, but to communicate them and work with them effectively, we have to give them concrete representations. These take the form of various media types. Some of the most common are written or spoken text, information visualizations such as maps and graphs, and computer file formats such as software and data files. There may be other effective representation formats in auditory, haptic, and other modes.

			It's important to distinguish the representation from the model itself. It means you can switch to a different representation if it better communicates the model or fits the needs of the audience. Another representation might also make the model easier for you to explore or manipulate as you're developing it.

	[[Category:Essays]]		[[Category:Essays]]
	[[Category:Developing]]		[[Category:Developing]]
	[[Category:Philosophy]]		[[Category:Philosophy]]

Andy Culbertson: Added the "Objects of study" section.

2018-02-04T05:41:13Z

Added the "Objects of study" section.

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:41, 4 February 2018
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	The purpose of this article is to spell out the method of analysis I've developed over the years. The purpose of doing that is to help myself use the method more often and with a more consistent procedure and to come up with ways to teach it to anyone who's interested.		The purpose of this article is to spell out the method of analysis I've developed over the years. The purpose of doing that is to help myself use the method more often and with a more thorough and consistent procedure and to come up with ways to teach it to anyone who's interested.

	The article is a work in progress, as is the method.		The article is a work in progress, as is the method.
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	Another metaphor I use for this product is a map. This article, for example, is a representation of a map of my analytical method. This is appropriate for my journey metaphor.		Another metaphor I use for this product is a map. This article, for example, is a representation of a map of my analytical method. This is appropriate for my journey metaphor.

	The second stage of travel is the use you'll put the model to. To name some key examples, the model could be a basis for learning information or a skill, for creating other content, or for making a decision or solving a problem.		The second stage of travel is the use you'll put the model to. To name some key examples, the model could be a basis for learning information or a skill, for creating other content, or for making a decision or solving a problem. In this case our purpose is to have a general analytical procedure to apply.

	Why are we interested in knowing the goals of analysis? First, the goal determines what aspects of the material we're analyzing are important. So it's key to defining the model and also to directing our attention and maximizing our use of time. In this case, these goals will define our model of analysis.		Why are we interested in knowing the goals of analysis? First, the goal determines what aspects of the material we're analyzing are important. So it's key to defining the model and also to directing our attention and maximizing our use of time. In this case, these goals will define our model of analysis.

	Second, knowing the point of what we're doing is a great motivator. Sometimes it can make the difference between persevering and giving up.		Second, knowing the point of what we're doing is a great motivator. Sometimes it can make the difference between persevering and giving up.

			== Objects of study ==

			Any analysis will have an object that's being analyzed, which I'll call the object of study. It helps to survey what objects these can be. You can analyze just about anything. But you might not think of something as a thing that can be analyzed. And when thinking through a general analytical procedure, your ideas about the procedure might be too limited if you don't keep in mind the range of possible objects.

			So what kinds of analyzable objects are there? They can be classified a number of ways that might affect the ways you analyze them. I'll list a few categories here that could be grouped and contrasted in various ways and an example or two of each: static (images) vs. dynamic (videos, procedures); concrete (concrete) vs. abstract (equations); individual (employees, birds) vs. collective (businesses, ecosystems); discrete (social networks) vs. continuous (temperatures); visual (dances), auditory (room acoustics), tactile (paper textures), textual (scientific articles), etc.; objective (nerve impulses) vs. subjective (intuitions, sensations); causal (geological processes) vs. purposeful (engines). Each object can be placed into more than one category.

			Additionally, you'll be analyzing particular dimensions of the object depending on your purpose. For example, a film could be analyzed for its dialog, cinematography, music, acting, directing, its influences, impact on society, and so on.

	[[Category:Essays]]		[[Category:Essays]]
	[[Category:Developing]]		[[Category:Developing]]
	[[Category:Philosophy]]		[[Category:Philosophy]]

Andy Culbertson: Deleted the Seeds category.

2018-01-28T04:22:04Z

Deleted the Seeds category.

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:22, 28 January 2018
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	[[Category:Essays]]		[[Category:Essays]]
	~~[[Category:Seeds]]~~
	[[Category:Developing]]		[[Category:Developing]]
	[[Category:Philosophy]]		[[Category:Philosophy]]

Andy Culbertson: Added the article.

2018-01-27T23:13:43Z

Added the article.

New page

The purpose of this article is to spell out the method of analysis I've developed over the years. The purpose of doing that is to help myself use the method more often and with a more consistent procedure and to come up with ways to teach it to anyone who's interested.

The article is a work in progress, as is the method.

== Definition ==

I'm calling this article "Analysis," because that's the term I usually use, but I hardly ever think about analysis on its own. My idea of analysis pulls along with it synthesis, in the form of modeling and systems thinking. But I use the term analysis to cover all of it. If I had to pick another one, I'd call it systematizing.

Traditionally analysis is seen as being about conceptually taking apart the subject matter, separating it into its components, and synthesis is about assembling the parts. But with my question-asking approach, I really do both at about the same time. It's more a process of clarifying and exploring than disassembly and reassembly.

== Goals ==

What are the goals of analysis in this method? There are two stages to think about in an analytical journey: the product of the analysis itself and the purposes that product can be used for.

The product I intend from an analysis is a model of the object I'm observing. The representation of the model can take various forms, such as a diagram, an essay, or a computer program. The model itself is an abstraction, though it will always have to take some form, if only as a set of ideas in the mind.

Another metaphor I use for this product is a map. This article, for example, is a representation of a map of my analytical method. This is appropriate for my journey metaphor.

The second stage of travel is the use you'll put the model to. To name some key examples, the model could be a basis for learning information or a skill, for creating other content, or for making a decision or solving a problem.

Why are we interested in knowing the goals of analysis? First, the goal determines what aspects of the material we're analyzing are important. So it's key to defining the model and also to directing our attention and maximizing our use of time. In this case, these goals will define our model of analysis.

Second, knowing the point of what we're doing is a great motivator. Sometimes it can make the difference between persevering and giving up.

[[Category:Essays]]
[[Category:Seeds]]
[[Category:Developing]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]