Everytime we repeat a measurement with a sensitive instrument, we obtain slightly different results. The common statistical model we use is that the error has two additive parts:
The systematic error[?] is sometimes called statistical bias[?]. We control it by using very carefully standardized procedures. Part of the education in every science is how to use the standard instruments of the discipline.
The random error[?] (or random variation[?]) is due to factors which we cannot (or do not) control. It may be too expensive or we may be too ignorant of these factors to control them each time we measure. It may even be that whatever we are trying to measure is changing (see dynamic models[?]).
back to statistical theory -- applied statistics
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