Validating Object-Oriented Cognitive Complexity Metrics Using Briand’s Properties

Abstract

Software complexity metrics serve as quantitative indicators that help practitioners and researchers evaluate various quality attributes of software systems, including maintainability, testability, reusability, and overall design quality. Numerous researchers have developed various complexity metrics specifically designed for Object-Oriented (OO) design paradigms. Among these contributions, Cognitive Weighted Inheritance Class Complexity (CWICC) and Interface-Based Cognitive Weighted Class Complexity (ICWCC) have emerged as significant measures for assessing the cognitive burden imposed by inheritance hierarchies and interface-based architectural patterns. To establish their scientific validity and practical reliability, these metrics require comprehensive theoretical evaluation against well-established software engineering principles. This research presents a systematic and rigorous evaluation of both CWICC and ICWCC metrics with Briand's validation criteria a widely accepted theoretical frameworks for assessing the effectiveness and soundness of software complexity measurement approaches. Through this comprehensive analysis, the study aims to validate the theoretical foundations of these cognitive complexity metrics and determine their suitability for practical application in object-oriented software quality assessment.