Commentary - software: metrics mentality versus statistical mentality

The software reliability community must move away from a metrics mentality to a statistical mentality. In a metrics mentality, the goal is to find quantities that can be calculated easily. This metrics mentality leads to the calculation of meaningless quantities. The user thinks he has useful information, but is mistaken. A statistical mentality defines parameters, collects data, and applies statistical procedures using the data to estimate parameters. The results are meaningful, useful estimates.