A method and system for data modeling that incorporates the advantages of
both traditional response surface methodology (RSM) and neural networks
is disclosed. The invention partitions the parameters into a first set of
s simple parameters, where observable data are expressible as low order
polynomials, and c complex parameters that reflect more complicated
variation of the observed data. Variation of the data with the simple
parameters is modeled using polynomials; and variation of the data with
the complex parameters at each vertex is analyzed using a neural network.
Variations with the simple parameters and with the complex parameters are
expressed using a first sequence of shape functions and a second sequence
of neural network functions. The first and second sequences are
multiplicatively combined to form a composite response surface, dependent
upon the parameter values, that can be used to identify an accurate
model.