Formal Specification of Hypotheses for Assisting Computer Simulation Studies

Abstract

The aim of computer simulation studies is to answer research questions by means of experiments. For providing reliable evidence, the procedure of the study needs to be aligned with the question and the steps of the study need to be adjusted and combined accordingly. Supporting this process is challenging as the identification, customization, and combination of adequate tools and techniques for the systematic design of simulation experiments with respect to a hypothesis is not trivial. Hence, for providing computer-aided assistance, a language for the specification of hypotheses with respect to the credible and reproducible testing of research questions in computer simulation is needed. In this paper, we propose an approach for formally specifying hypotheses that allows for automated hypothesis testing. Based on specified hypotheses, we demonstrate the assistance of simulation studies in terms of model parametrization and analysis of results with respect to the statistically sound evaluation of hypotheses.

A Continuous Process for Validation, Verification, and Accreditation of Simulation Models

“…This allows us to define the concept of model-based discussion that starts from the software engineering concept of Model-Based Systems Engineering [23]. This is in line with the hypothesis-driven simulation studies as proposed in [24], the formal specification hypothesis [21], and also the goal [19]. Notice that due to the cyclic nature of modeling, different versions or prototypes can appear.…”

“…In [20], the authors provide a detailed process for conducting hypothesis-driven simulation studies and show how such explicit hypotheses models can facilitate validation processes. Both [21,22] present a more general approach, describing the phases of the life cycle of a simulation study based on the use of assumptions. These studies try to accommodate the structure of the assumptions used in a simulation model but not by outlining how one can perform a validation of the model assumptions.…”