def checkElementsOfTimeVaryAreLists(self):
        """
        A method to check that elements of time_vary are lists.
        """
        for param in self.time_vary:
            assert type(getattr(self,param))==list,param + ' is not a list, but should be' + \
                                                   ' because it is in time_vary'
A method to check that elements of time_vary are lists.