Squashing Theory: A Prediction Approach for Drug Behavior

Abstract

SUMMARY This paper describes a prediction approach called Squashing Theory. Squashing Theory, as used in this example to predict drug behavior, incorporates biological, psychological and sociological measures. The Artificial Feed Forward Neural Network -a recently developed computer architecture inspired by the brain's structure (Dayhoff, 1990)-is the framework for Squashing Theory. The Network was computer programmed by the Semeion Research Center in Rome, Italy. The model was able to predict drug behavior at the 92% level on prototypical cases and at the 80% level on uncertain cases based on self reported drug use from two norming samples on the prediction sample.