Returns true if *value* for parameter type *paramName* is in the 
        auto parameters

        :param paramName: the name of the auto-parameter to match, e.g. 'frequency'
        :type paramName: str
        :param value: the value of the parameter to search for
        :returns: bool

def containsPval(self, paramName, value):
        """Returns true if *value* for parameter type *paramName* is in the 
        auto parameters

        :param paramName: the name of the auto-parameter to match, e.g. 'frequency'
        :type paramName: str
        :param value: the value of the parameter to search for
        :returns: bool
        """
        # this may break if there are two parameters in the model with 
        # the same parameter type!!!
        params = self._autoParams.allData()
        steps = self.autoParamRanges()
        pnames = [p['parameter'] for p in params]
        if paramName in pnames:
            pidx = pnames.index(paramName)
            return value in steps[pidx]
        else:
            return False