The complexities of measuring complexity

This paper considers alternative ways of conceptualising and measuring complexity in networks. There is a need to include analysis of real world data in the design and verification of models of relationships and network evolution. Often available data is quantitative and survey-based cross sectional or time series data. This paper highlights the problems associated with using statistical analysis to analyse these data and proposes different approaches that conduct analysis of the patterns of change in a way that does not contradict the primary assumptions of statistical analysis.