Models of Interactive Effects

Abstract

In my talk, I examine the use of models to investigate unexpected experimental results. I examine experimental demonstrations of previously unknown interactions between phenomena in a system. For instance, if a patient is the first to take two drugs together, the drugs may interact with each other in a way not explained by the conjunction of the effect of each drug on its own. I call such phenomena “interactive effects.” Models of interactive effects contribute to scientific progress, since experiments that confirm interactive effects stimulate new models and more extensive explanations.