Fig. 1

The thin arrows and letters (a–d) indicate the relevant mimicking/representational relations and relata. The thick vertical black arrow indicates that the simulation model generates simulated data using a Simulated Data Generating Process (SDGP). While empirical data are generated from a system via a DGP or DGPs (light grey horizontal arrows), data models provide a representation of empirical data (the dark grey color of the rightmost horizontal arrow indicates this difference). A data model is needed for making empirical data usable for evidential purposes. Simulations can themselves be data models, test or correct data models, or take data models as input. (Color figure online)