A non-linearity measure of a problem´s crossover suitability

For any problem with an unknown fitness function, justification of an evolutionary algorithm as a research method necessarily relies upon conjectures about that fitness function. This paper formulates apparent crossover partition coefficients (a generalisation of Walsh transforms) and uses these to develop a new model of crossover non-linearity ratios. Experimental runs demonstrate that this theory can offer insights into the apparent tractability of problems under crossover