Evaluation of information modeling methods-a review

Hundreds of modeling methods are in existence today, yet practitioners and researchers are zealously "producing" new modeling methods. The "blooming" of modeling methods is not the problem; the lack of standardized techniques for evaluating them is. To further complicate the matter, most of the modeling methods are introduced based on common sense and intuition. Theoretical foundations and empirical evidence are severely lacking. With the current state of affairs, evaluation of modeling methods has become necessary. Comparing modeling methods provides us with the necessary knowledge and understanding on the strengths and weaknesses of each method. This knowledge can also guide us in our quest for new modeling methods. This paper reviews the various evaluation techniques used by researchers and practitioners. The evaluation techniques are categorized into non-empirical and empirical techniques.