Analysis of measurement convertibility from FP to CFP: Conversion formula and monotonicity condition

Abstract

The article describes the basics of two software measurement methods: the FPA method, which represents the first generation of Functional Size Measurement (1G FSM), and the COSMIC method, which represents the second generation of such methods (2G FSM). It discusses both the similarities and the observed differences between the two methods. The discussions also include the influence of the increasing variable values on measurement results in both measures. Drawing upon previous research, an analysis was performed into the relation between the results obtained from both measurement methods. The hypothesis on a linear relation was tested by employing a statistical method of linear regression analysis to investigate a sample of 13 software requirements specification documents. The obtained result was verified on a group of 14 different applications, by using the MMRE and Pred(0.25) measures.