Connecting variables in Simulation Models
Connecting variables in Simulation Models
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When you have a Simulation model with at least 2 variables, you can define relationships between them using the Connections grid.
Variables on the left-hand side of the grid "affect" variables on the top of the grid, if the connection between them has been set to Active.
In the example below, the Light has been made to affect Height. This could be an experiment to see how lighting ("bright" or "dark" environments) affect the height achieved by plants.
Clicking on the connection point allows you to define how the variables are connected, or to activate or de-activate the connection.
There are four possible connection types, which are explained in the articles below:
Categorical affects Categorical
Correlation vs causation
As there is no mathematical difference in the model whether a relationship modelled might in the real world be causative or a correlation, you do not need to specify this in defining the model.
This is in itself an insight into why it can be very difficult to determine cause and effect by experimental studies.
Hiding variables from the connection grid
To de-clutter the grid, you can click Hide by the variable name, if that variable is not going to be needed in that context.
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