response surface methodology

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.10082

Experimental design in which the response is modelled in terms of one or more factor levels.

Notes:
  1. Response surface methodology is usually associated with optimization. The model used is typically a quadratic function leading to a maximum or minimum response in the factor space.
  2. The term "surface" implies two factors and a single response, when a plot of the modelled response as a function of values of the factors leads to a surface in the three-dimensional space. This can be generalized to any number of factors.
Source:
PAC, 2016, 88, 407. (Vocabulary of concepts and terms in chemometrics (IUPAC Recommendations 2016)) on page 417 [Terms] [Paper]