What is a 'top-down' model?
A top-down computational model seeks to explain, encapsulate understanding, and provide adequate predictive capability, using process conceptualisation (representation) at a level of complexity appropriate to, but not usually exceeding,
- that required to address the problem in question (Occam's Razor); or
- that which is justifiable on the basis of information extractable from available observational data.
Different models may be required to address different problems.