This thesis describes the results of a research effort focusing on the validation of a procedure for assessing the quality of an Ada-based product. Starting with the identification of crucial Ada constructs, this thesis outlines a seven step process for defining metrics that support software quality assessment within a framework based on linkages among software engineering objectives, principles, and attributes. The thesis presents the impact of the use of crucial Ada constructs on the software engineering attributes and describes measurement approaches for assessing that impact This thesis also outlines a planned research effon to develop an automated analyzer for the assessment of software quality in Ada-based products and plans for validating the assessment procedure.