Figure 1. The experimental cycle.

The experimental cycle summarizes the interaction between modelling, experimental work and statistical data analysis. One starts with new competing hypotheses about a system of interest. These are then embodied into a set of candidate models that are to be compared with each other given empirical data. One then designs an experiment that is maximally discriminative with respect to the candidate models. Data acquisition and analysis then proceed, the conclusion of which serves to generate a new set of competing hypotheses, etc… Adapted from [14].