The "weight" of models and complexity. Issue 3 (2nd October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Du, Jing
• Is Part Of: Complexity. Volume 21:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 35
• Publication Date: 2014-10-02
• Subjects: modeling -- complexity -- data space; Chaotic behavior in systems -- Periodicals; Complexity (Philosophy) -- Periodicals; 003
• DOI: 10.1002/cplx.21612
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2787

Abstract

Abstract : This article introduces a way of measuring the intrinsic complexity of models. Unlike complication, complexity is an irreducible indication of the innate characteristics of models. Instead of a reductionist paradigm, complexity should be measured in a holistic way. This article redefines the relationship between models and data, and proposes the concept of the "weight" of models, that is, how "heavy" a model is. Based on this concept, this article further defines the complexity of a model to be its ability to distort the space configuration. Three complexity indices are proposed to quantify the extent to which the input space is distorted by a model. It is recognized that there is a lack of widely accepted definition or measure of model complexity. The answer provided by this article is an attempt to move the inquiry a step closer to that goal. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 21–35, 2016