There is a great deal of conversation in our field about the need to move from linear-based to system-based evaluation. The discussion then proceeds to conversations about what system-based evaluation is and how to go about doing it. The reasoning is one of transformation from a “linear” to a “system” state. There is something missing in this direction of reasoning, namely, what “linear” means. This language leads us astray because many models that people disparage as “linear” are in fact deeply system based. First I make the case that seemingly linear models can exhibit non-linear behavior. Then I discuss how system-based frameworks can be applied to those seemingly linear models.
Evaluation Uncertainty 