types of errors

Question 1

random error

Answer 1

are errors due to some chance factor or chance variation in a measurement.
occur at random and are often unknown. therefore affecting the measurement process or variable being measured. errors effect the precision of a measurement and are present in all measurements, except for measurements involving counting.

Question 2

systematic errors

Answer 2

are produced by some factor that consistently favours one condition rather than another. “constant”. typically associated with a flaw in some aspect of the research design, its procedures or implementation, like an inbuilt fault.

Question 3

personal error

Answer 3

are faults entirely sourced with the researcher, which is why they are also called human errors. include mistakes, miscalculations, slip-ups and observer errors; e.g, overlooking a participant’s response, losing a questionnaire, using an early draft of a questionnaire instead of the final version, calculating incorrectly, misreading a score, using the wrong formula to calculate a score, running late or out of time, not taking enough care when making or recording observations, and so on.

Question 4

Accuracy

Answer 4

The accuracy of a measurement relates to how close it is to the ‘true’ value of the quantity being measured.
For example, 4.556 is more accurate then 4.5.

Question 5

Uncertainty

Answer 5

The uncertainty of the result of a measurement reflects the lack of exact knowledge of the value of the quantity being measured.
Incorrect Data and Missing Data

Question 6

Precision

Answer 6

Refers to how closely a set of measurement values agree with each other. Precision gives no indication of how close the measurements are to the true value and is therefore a separate consideration to accuracy.