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Models and theories are often developed with reference to one another. In urban studies, theories are used for many reasons including to explain why cities are found in certain places, why land use varies in cities, and why different groups of people are found in different parts of the city. If it is not ‘true’ in all situations, it remains a theory. It is usually an untested, and if it is tested and shown to be ‘true’ in all situations, it may be referred to as a law or rule. This means it isn’t easily observed in reality. Models can only be used to predict that a new situation will fit existing knowledge, assuming that any factors not referenced in the model are constant (in urban models, this would mean that things like hills, government policy and rivers are totally ignored).Ī theory is an abstract idea that tries to explain why something happens. Several examples of models are shown lower down this page.
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Researchers develop these models by looking at one or more cities, and then drawing a simplified version of the land use pattern that they find in most situations. In urban studies, models are often used to show how land use varies across a city. They are usually created when researchers look at several examples of something, and identify the common elements. Models are simplified versions of reality. At the most basic level, models describe, while theories explain. Many people use them as synonyms, but there are important differences between the two. Models and theories are often confused for one another. Model versus theory: what’s the difference? The theory of bid rent is explained elsewhere on this site. Variations in urban land use are shown using geographical models, and can be explained by theories including ‘bid rent’. This vertical variation is greatest in the Central Business District (see the separate page on economic activity in the CBD). For example, there might be a residential tower block above a shopping mall. It’s important to recognise that as well as a horizontal ground level variation in land use, there can also be a vertical variation. Urban land use is generally described as the land use at ground level. Open space (including planned open space like parks, and derelict space).Urban land use literally refers to what takes up the physical space of a town or city. Urban land use patterns and models: Learning activities.Mediterranean Europe (Spain, France, Italy, Greece) and North Africa.Polycentric models and the Los Angeles School.Harris and Ullman’s Multiple Nuclei Model.Monocentric models and the Chicago School.Model versus theory: what’s the difference?.