Chidamber and Kemerer's metrics suite: A measurement theory perspective

The metrics suite for object-oriented design put forward by Chidamber and Kemerer [8] is partly evaluated by applying principles of measurement theory. Using the object coupling measure (CBO) as an example, it is shown that failing to establish a sound empirical relation system can lead to deficiencies oi software metrics. Similarly, for the object-oriented cohesion measure (LCOM) it is pointed out that the issue oi empirical testing the representation condition must not be ignored, even if other validation principles are carefully obeyed. As a by-product, an alternative formulation for LCOM is proposed.