Unify API for Parameter validation

[philippjfr]

Different parameters have a variety of different methods which perform validation, e.g. things like _check_value, _checkBounds, _check, which are called inside the set methods. This makes it impossible for external code to use the parameter validation, e.g. to perform validation of the output on output methods (see #299). I would propose that each Parameter type should have a public validate method, which performs all the applicable validation calling the various current private methods if necessary.

[jbednar]

Sounds great.