The Doctor Who Canonicity Site: With Added Science

THE ELEVENTH HOUR: HOW CANONIC IS MATT SMITH'S DOCTOR?

2010-04-16T01:33:00.000-07:00

TEH has a measured Canonicity of 26,512. Higher than Tennant episodes such as Midnight (13,477) but lower than Rose (85,107) or Susan (105,098). All measures rounded. TEH remains substantially canonical at 0.25 Susans. Readers will recall that our subcanonic TV baseline is A Fix For Sontarons with a canonicity of 48 0.00045 Susans [which equates to a relatively subliminal amount of canonicity space/time, as explained in previous posts].

Renormalisation: however at the point of reception (the value a2 in the equation below, can be held to have been 63 not 198, and this would raise the canonicity of
TEH to 0.97 Roses. In comparison with Rose, pending peer review, this procedure is valid as Rose itself possessed an anomalous a2 value due to its broadcasting position within its month block.

Dr Tevor Grant.

Working:

C= (Q * q1/100 * (a1/a2) * P * 1/D)
C Q A1 A2 P D
q1 q2
26512.65223 8332547.842 10080000 63 198 1 1

Canonicity in Susans 0.252264378
Canonicity in Roses 0.31151853
Canonicity in Ponds 1

C= (Q * q1/100 * (a1/a2) * P * 1/D)
C Q A1 A2 P D
q1 q2
83325.47842 8332547.842 10080000 63 63 1 1
Canonicity in Susans 0.792830901
Canonicity in Roses 0.979058236
Canonicity in Ponds 1

Notes: re The Eleventh Hour [example calc]
Q = Quality reviews (Gallifrey Base, at 16/04/2010) 1032 5 star, and 1672 9 star and 1702 8 star out of 5330 ratings)
Applying the proportion (1032x1672x1702)/5330 to the 10.08m final BARB viewing figures gives value q1. Exposure weighting, = 1/100th of viewer/readers/listeners.
A1 = Audience time for this = 63 min
A2 = Audience time for total Doctor Who in Month of first broadcast = 63+45+45+45 or renormalised to 63 at point of broadcast.
P = Primacy = 1, as this is first appearance in medium of Doctor
D = Proximity to current Doctor at creation = 1, as Matt Smith is the Doctor when TEH is made

QUANTIFYING THE UNCERTAINTIES OF WHOSTERY

2008-11-20T14:56:00.000-08:00

Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle can be given as an equation thus:

E deltaT ³ h / 4 p

In essence, the uncertainty in the energy (DE) times the uncertainty in the time (Dt) -- or alternatively, the uncertainty in the position (Dx) multiplied times the uncertainty in the momentum (Dp) -- is greater or equal to a constant (h/4p). The constant, h, is called Planck’s Constant (where h/4p = 0.527 x 10-34 Joule-second). The implication is that in extremely small time elements the uncertainty in the value of the energy of a particle is significant.

The equivalent equation for all dating in Doctor Who, and for UNIT dating in fine is DeltaC DeltaT ³ c / 4 n. That is the uncertainty in the transparency (Dt) x uncertainty in the dating (Dd) is greater than or equal to a variable (c / 4 n) where c is the standard Canonicity value of the event and n = the extended now, the time of the dating assessment expressed in seconds since the ‘availability’ of the event. Transparency: a new concept in applied canonometrics is, quite simply, the likelihood that a member of the general public in the ‘Doctor Who’ universe living through the events, would be aware of them. Before looking at specific cases, and solving any outstanding UNIT dating issues, by science, we can derive some rough and ready ‘thumb-rules’ from the basic form of the equation.

(1) If hardly anyone would have been aware of it, it may be possible to date an event exactly.

(2) If everyone would have been aware of it, its date may be vague.

How beautifully this tallies with established Whostery.

Dr Trevor K Grant Chd

UNIT DATING THROUGH SCIENCE

2008-11-03T15:56:00.001-08:00

A major breakthrough on UNIT dating is expected within days! This will parallel the advances in canonometrics and be a PURE WHITE LIGHT OF REASON shone on as dingy and grey a topic as a bowl of unwashed paramecia.

Dr Trevor K Grant ChD

AVERAGING RULE IN LATER CLASSIC EPISODES

2008-10-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Android Invasion 1
C = 13931.71 (5970731.71/11900000*119000*23/69*0.7*1)
The Android Invasion 2
C = 39120.84 (5669686.41/11300000*113000*23/23*0.69*1)
The Android Invasion 3
C = 41283.34 (6071080.14/12100000*121000*23/23*0.68*1)
The Android Invasion 4
C = 38323.07 (5719860.63/11400000*114000*23/23*0.67*1)

TAI C = 33164.74

Where episodes lack an individual name, they cease to be canonical events in their
own right. The canonicity score for TAI is therefore the average of its episodes scores not the sum, unlike AUC.

Doctor T K Grant Chd

Weightings for the next PDA by Doctor....

2008-10-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hypothetic 1st Doc PDA 6.37
Hypothetic 2nd Doc PDA 6.69375
Hypothetic 3rd Doc PDA 7.47
Hypothetic 4th Doc PDA 8.295
Hypothetic 5th Doc PDA 10.71
Hypothetic 6th Doc PDA 12.7575
Hypothetic 7th Doc PDA 3.36
Hypothetic 8th Doc PDA 7.245
Hypothetic 9th Doc PDA 59.22

Assuming, that a PDA is published now, of PDA length, of equally high quality, only one single book: the formula gives differing values by Doctor as P and D vary.

Only two values are sufficiently counterintuitive to require explanation:
1) Why is the 7th Doctor so low?
2) Why is the 9th Doctor so high?

In both cases the issue is P. The 7th Doctor has in the NAs, a high number of previous canonical books: any new work has to make its mark on canonicity in defiance of these. Canonometrics predicts that few really valuable canonical issues remain to be detailed, as P is low. Note that the low predictive value of C = 3.36, could be tested by analysis of the post NA, 7th Doctor works. The 9th Doctor has no PDA previous works and only 6 NSAs, interest in a new long fiction work dealing with him is predicted - by pure science - to be considerable.

Doctor T K Grant Chd

A FIX WITH SONTARONS

2008-10-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

A Fix With Sontarons
C = 48.54545455 (600000/6000000*6000*9/99*0.89*1)

Care must be taken not to confute canonicity levels across media. By the classic who AUC baseline (Susans) AFWS rates at 0.000461904 S. This is well below the cut off point for TV canonicity.

You may ask how this is defined. The matter is obvious, a canonicity rating for TV is below the level of functional canonicity if, expressed in Susans and back calculated as a length of AUC it is functionally subliminal.

Thus a rating of 0.00046 S = 1.8 seconds of canonical AUCtime [measured against the 4 episodes of AUC, including the repeat of episode 1]

That values of C in double figures against the TV baseline, are considered to be sub-critically canonical must not be taken as a stick to beat the NAs, EDAs, PDAs, etc. There canonicity must be judged on their own relative scale. A possible change here would be to modulate the value of the X/divisor, to show that a higher percentage of book/audio/tie-in audience V numbers are non-arbetary.

Doctor T K Grant Chd

WELCOME QUESTION #2

2008-10-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

Another writer asks/comments on OG

"Or perhaps - 'cos this has just occurred to me - the closer to the present day a source was published, the greater the impact of canon on that source. As in, a Bill PDA could more easily be written without regard to canon as you wouldn't refer to canon established after Bill's era in the metatext of the PDA, whereas a Sylv PDA without Deadly Assassin as it's cornerstone is virtually unthinkable. Sorry if that doesn't make sense."

This is covered under canonometrics by D, the 'closer to the present data' the closer to the current Doctor. In practice a 'Bill' PDA can not be more easily written, as none currently exist, but if one were to be written now it would be as the writer says "without regard to canon", hence the low canonicity factor of D.

Consider a hypothetical 1st Doctor PDA. Let it be well received in fandom with 90%
of fans voting it 4 or 5 stars, let it reach audience figures on a par with the NAs.

Hypothetical 1st Doc PDA
C = 6.37 (6300/7000*70*100,000/100,000*0.91*(1/9)

P = 0.91 as there are 9 other 1st Doctor NAs or PDAs hence (1-(9*0.01)) = 0.91

It has a canonicity weight of 6.37 or 3 times that of Spiral Scratch. We can therefore see that the canonmetrics formula does not disadvantage old doctors at a substantial level of effect so much as it places premiums on a) being good, b) reaching the audience, c) being the sole item for perusal in its class at the time of appearance.

I trust this addresses the poster concerns, clearly and simply.

Doctor T K Grant Chd

SQUARING V?

2008-10-03T04:16:00.000-07:00

C = Q*X*(A1/A2)*P*1/D
Q = (q1/q2)*V
X = V/100
Therefore: C = ((q1/q2)*V)*V/100*P*1/D

C = Canonicity
X = Exposure, where V = volume of viewers/readers/listeners, 1% of V = the set of core fans likely to retain detail at the level of canonicity from exposure to exposure.
Q = Quality, where q1 = votes in fan fora aat 4 or 5 stars out of 5, q2 = people voting * V = perception of quality by volume.
P = Primacy, canonicity which has had time to 'set' is more 'canonical' than new, unless, other factors in the equation (larger exposure, higher quality) intervenes.
D = Distance from current Doctor, the inverse of this value is a diminutive effect when considering the 'canonical weight' for reasons well explained in previous posting.

Doctor Louise Dennis writes "Don't you want to drop V from the C equation? i.e.
C = (Q* 1/100 * (a1/a2) * P * 1/D) where Q = (q1/q2*V)".

This is a delightfully clear exposition which will in future be used.

Doctor T K Grant Chd

WELCOME BASIC QUESTIONS #1

2008-10-03T02:55:00.000-07:00

A writer on OG fora asks:

http://www.doctorwh oforum.com/ showpost. php?p=7036493& postcount= 163

Sadly he misses the fact that this is 'an obscure little site' only because it has been in existance three days. When the great work of mapping all Who rigourously by Science is completed, and some say this will accomplish the same aim as enunciating all the possible names of God, we will see which site is of greater relivance to human worth and dignity.

However he asks a valid question. The logic of the factor D is the equation is simple. Canonicity is a measure of deformation of fanspace, which the gravity analogy makes quite clear. The 'canonicity' waves from previous fanspace embedded events have already been travelling towards us in 'fanspace/time' since their point of origin. The weight of the new(er) canonical embedding event can not retroeffect the original, only impact on a more latterly interaction [positive or destructive] of the waveform.

In short as Professor Yeatmen and Sellers remarked about history 'canonicity is what people remembered when they remembered the sorts of things they remember when they think about canonicity'. For this reason as a canonical event A, embedded in fanspace/time at T, has has a 'longer period of non-interference' ' in which to establish its weight, a later event B, even if occurring in Doctoral space/time at A-1, is less weighted.

I trust this is entirely clear.

Doctor T K Grant Chd

SPIRAL SCRATCH

2008-10-02T05:36:00.000-07:00

Spiral Scratch
C = 2.5032 (1788/6000*60*80000/160000*0.84*3)

Or approximately 9.33 times as canonical as Time's Champion.

Note: that issues of 'licensing' per se are irrelivant to canonometrics. However:
as a licensed property will (all other things being equal) reach a larger audience
the higher values for A1/A2 will raise its status proportionately. Spiral Scratch is also rated higher on Primacy [it is preceded by 16 6th Doctor novels rather than 17], and on D as at the time of its publication [August 2005] the then current Doctor was 9th, not 10th.

Doctor T K Grant Chd

TIME'S CHAMPION

2008-10-01T06:38:00.000-07:00

Time's Champion
C = 0.268246701 (303.7974684/500*5*100000/235000*0.83*1/4)

Notes: Q = 35+15 [5 and 4 star ratings] / 79 [votes cast, on OG thread as of this morning]*500 [likely run(1)]*500/100*[likely wordage(2)]/[wordage of current book releases NSAs(3) x 3 + TC]*Reduction of primary value 1 [appearance of 6th Doctor in print by 0.01 x 17 previous MAs and PDAs]*1/4, were 4 = distance from current Doctor 10.

The values (1) and (2) are estimates and I would welcome actual data on these points.
(3)The inclusion of the NSAs here is open to question, as they were released earlier, however they are in direct competition with TC for the 'fan pound' just as 'who on TV that month' is in competition for the general TV audiences 'attention' -and memory.

Time's Champion is therefore canonical at a mimimum of approximately 3 nanoSusans.

Considering it outwith competition from NSA volume would give it a value of around
C = 0.630379747, or approximately 7 nanoSusans.

Doctor T K Grant Chd

DALEK

2008-10-01T06:03:00.000-07:00

Dalek
C = 26062.68052 (8066924.1 8630000 86300 45.33333 133.3 0.95 1)
DC = 80669.24101 (8066924.1 8630000 86300 45.33333 45.33333 1 1)

Here we can see a good example of how microcanonology can be applied to create subvalues for specific elements. While Dalek is weakly canonical in terms of Rose because of the amount of new Who available, it is strongly canonical in respect of the Daleks. The formula/working for this is, obviously:

1)

26062.68 = (q1/q2)*X*(a1/a2) q1 = 8066924.1 [the number of people who would have liked it at 4 or 5 star levels]This is calculated by:(2755 [5* votes on OG]+755 [4* votes on OG])/3755[Number of votes cast on OG])* 8630000 [the people who watched]). I considered going by AI, but canonicity is predominantly a 'fan-artifact' hence Q should be derived from fan sources whereever possible.)q2 = 8630000 [8.63m viewers]X = 863000 [q2/100]A1 = length in hours, minutes decimalisedA2 = length of total who in the medium in hours decimalised *first(1)* broadcast that month(1 for moden who I'm invoking this rule even though I ignored it for AUC, modern who has too many iterations to be easily trackable, whereas a double showing for AUC was a substantial diversion from practise.)P = 0.95 [reduced by 0.01 from the premier episode of the the currrent Doctor in the medium,per episode]1/D = 1 [not strictly mathematical as 1/10-10 is impossible, but given as a placeholder].

2)

DC with 'the Daleks as Primary element' gives:- Dalek 80669.24101 (8066924.1 8630000 86300 45.33333 45.33333 1 1) As this is the only episode *involving that element* broadcast that month, and it is the first appearance of the element within the current Doctor's run, this 'boosts' the canonicity *for* that element. Therefore A2 = A1, and P = 1.

So for questions like 'Was Skaro' destroyed - a question I hope to solve shortly through science. It would be the 'Dalek' C value for Rememberance of The Daleks and War Of The Daleks that would decide the issue.

Astute students will note that where currency, primary, and uniqueness are givens, canonicity is entirely dependant on exposure and quality. That this should be so is a beautiful proof of the equation method.

Doctor T K Grant Chd

THE 1996 TV MOVIE

2008-09-30T02:41:00.000-07:00

TVM

C = 63700 (6370000/9100000*91000*84.65/84.65*1*1)

An interesting case in that its low Canonicity [0.6 S] cf Rose at [0.8 S]is driven entirely by its perceived 'quality' Q. All other aspects of the Canonicity Equation are high.
It is the primary appearance of a Doctor in its medium, ergo P = 1.
It is an account of the current Doctor so its D = 1.
It is the only Who in its medium in the month of presentation so its
A1/A2 is 1
It is watched by a large [native UK] audience so its X is high = 91000.
Its low Q [(7/10)*9100000], is driven among fans almost completely by its confused
narrative, and issues surrounding the Doctor's half human status.

We can therefore conclude that the difference between 0.8 S for Rose and 0.6 S for TVM is derived from this almost entirely, and place a negative canonicity value of
-0.2 S on the statement "The Doctor is half human".

This resolves the issue mathematically. It is now -20% canonical to state that the Doctor is half-human, and hence clearly nonsensical.

Doctor T K Grant Chd

TOWARDS A QUANTUM-GRAVITICS OF CANONICITY

2008-09-29T15:22:00.000-07:00

Having established the measurements R and S, and set out the equations for deducing the value C expressed against those measures: we can calculate the relative likelihood of a new work N referencing a pervious work of a specific value C.

The equation for this will be familiar from astrophysics as it closely resembles that for gravitation.

F(c)

(C1 + C2)/dt2

The Force impelling canonical reference F(c) is proportionate

to the sum of the canonities [which must be expressed in the same units either S or R] / the square of the difference in time between them.

Experimental work has yet to determine the equivalent of the Gravitational Constant G. However a unit for the F(c) analogous to the Newton has been defined. This unit will be termed 'Hinton' or "H". The value 'H' analogous to G, when defined will be measured in S/yr2 [R/yr2] but given as 1 Hinton, thereafter.

Doctor T K Grant Chd

THE UNQUIET DEAD

2008-09-29T15:18:00.000-07:00

The Unquiet Dead
C = 38033.57 (7756179.4/8860000*88600*44.82/89.57*0.98*1)

0.36 S
0.45 R

Doctor T K Grant Chd

THE END OF THE WORLD

2008-09-29T15:09:00.000-07:00

The End Of The World
C = 31852.6 (6439662.06/7970000*79700*44.75/89.57*0.99*1)

= 0.3 S [30% as 'CANONICAL' to Who as An Unearthly Child
= 0.37 R [37% as 'CANONICAL' to Who as Rose .

Doctor T K Grant Chd

ROSE

2008-09-29T14:51:00.000-07:00

Rose
C = 85107.79 (8510778.56/10810000*108100*44.18/44.18*1*1)

Here we see that ROSE is 0.8 [S] in value, or quasiprecisely 80% as canonical as An Unearthy Child

However Rose is more canonical than any individual episode of
An Unearthly Child.

How is this possible?

The objective judgement of canonostatics can not lie. The issue is simple. Crucial canonical elements debue at different times within the four episodes that comprise An Unearthly Child, consequently as a whole it is more irreplaceable to the canon than Rose, however Rose is more irreplaceable than any single part of An Unearthly Child. Consider that even An Unearthly Child, the fannominated strongest part of An Unearthly Child was itself a replacement for the Pilot Episode and thus could have differed in several crucial ways. As we develope complex or microcanonology we will see how these micro-changes to canonicity can be weighed.

The ROSE [R] having the value of 85107.79 C or 0.898 S, is the basal unit of Canonicity for the TV series from 2006 onwards.

Doctor T K Grant Chd

AN UNEARTHLY CHILD

2008-09-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

C= (Q * V/100 * (a1/a2) * P * 1/D) where Q = (q1/q2*V)
An Unearthly Child
C = 62677.4 (9540000/10600000*106000*46.8/71.23*1*1 (see footnotes)
The Cave of Skulls
C = 10017.4 (2950000/5900000*59000*24.43/71.23*0.99*1)
The Forest of Fear
c = 16646.7 (3450000/6900000*69000*23.63/48*0.98*1)
The Firemaker
15757.1 3200000 6400000 64000 24.37 48 0.97 1
An Unearthly Child
Total: 105098.68

This value [HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE "SUSAN" OR "S"] is the basal measure of canonicity for Doctor Who on television between 1963 and 1989.

Footnotes:
Notes: re An Unearthly Child [example calc].
Q = Quality A selection of reviews (20) on the 'Doctor Who Ratings, by Fans for Fans' site were taken as giving a quality for q1, of the 20 reviews 18, gave 10/10 or special mention to episode 1. Applying the proportion 18/20 to the actual reviewing figures, gives a 10m 'would vote 5 out of 5' fans out of the 4.7m + 6.9m to watch An Unearthly Child across its 2 showings in Nov 63.
X = Exposure weighting, = 1/100th of viewer/readers/listeners.
A1 = Audience time for this = 23min 24 seconds x 2
A2 = Audience time for total Doctor Who in Month of first broadcast = 2 x AUC + 1 x TCOS
P = Primacy = 1, as this is first appearance in medium, thereafter reduced by 0.01 per episode within Doctor.
D = Proximity to current Doctor at creation = 1, as Hartnell is the Doctor when AUC is made.

What could be simpler! With his objective measure of canonicity defined and accomplished never again will a fan cry out, "How can my love for something be externally validated as worthy!". A Dark Age has ended in the searing light of SCIENCE!

Doctor T K Grant Chd

The Canonicity Equation!

2008-09-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

C = Q * X * (A1/A2) * P * 1/D