Concept · dictionary entry
Black-Box Observation
A methodology in which conclusions are drawn only from a system's external behaviour.
Definition
A methodology in which conclusions about a system are drawn only from its external behaviour under stated inputs — never from its internal parameters, gradients or activations. Black-box observation is the discipline that makes conformance tests portable across systems.
Formal reference
Machine Entity Comprehension: A Black-Box Conformance Framework for Identity, Context and Change — §2
Related concepts
Demonstrations
Limitations
- Black-box observation does not explain mechanism
- Some properties of interest are not observable from behaviour alone