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From: frank@grep.co.uk (Frank Wales)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: metrics and the SAT example
Message-ID: <1991May24.192101.22317@grep.co.uk>
Date: 24 May 91 19:21:01 GMT
References: <24563@unix.SRI.COM> <1991May21.223401.27023@netcom.COM> <1991May22.222646.10571@ico.isc.com> <1991May23.014904.5896@netcom.COM>
Reply-To: frank@grep.co.uk (Frank Wales)
Organization: Grep Limited, LEEDS, UK
Lines: 29

In article <1991May23.014904.5896@netcom.COM> jls@netcom.COM (Jim Showalter) writes:
>It may seem silly, but my basic point is that if it turned out
>that there was a very strong correlation between a metric that measured
>the monthly rutabaga consumption of a development team and that team's
>success on a project, then it is quite arguable that rutabaga consumption
>is a VALID metric.

It must be possible to establish credible causality too, otherwise you can't
be sure what you're measuring.  Say you notice that levels of ice-cream 
consumption correlate strongly with deaths at the beach.  Does this mean
ice-cream is a killer?  Not if you realise that both variables have
a common influence, such as sunny weather.

>My father pointed out one time
>that the statement "it only provides symptomatic relief" was stupid: if
>the symptoms of a broken arm are pain, bone jutting from muscle, and an
>inability to lift objects with the arm, then relieving those symptoms
>is the same as curing the problem--so what's the objection?

I take it your father wasn't a doctor, then? :-)  Taking Tylenol whenever
you have a headache doesn't cure your brain tumour.

>Obviously, then, potato consumption is a valid metric
>for violent criminal behavior... ;-)

Indeed.  Just like looking at local death rates makes hospitals hazardous.
--
Frank Wales, Grep Limited,             [frank@grep.co.uk<->uunet!grep!frank]
Kirkfields Business Centre, Kirk Lane, LEEDS, UK, LS19 7LX. (+44) 532 500303