The Concept of Informing Power etc. As Basis for a Cybernetic Evaluation of Quality Testing Methods

Hubert Žáček

Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

Summary

A very short introduction into the principles of information theory as part of cybernetics is presented in which the category of information is shown as contradictory to that of energy in physical considerations. Based on previous and present findings of the author, three information-theoretic indices are suggested which are appropriate for characterization of technical merits of quality testing methods. These indices are “information content” and “informing power” and “relative informing power” and they can be used for answering manifold experimental and/or other relevant questions. The application of these indices is more intuitive than the usual simple indication of, e. g., mean, standard deviation, etc.