StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Sources of Measurement Error - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay explains the four major sources of error common to measurement, with two examples given in each case to support each error types. It is necessary first however, to explain the basic ideas behind the concept of measurement before addressing these in detail.
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.6% of users find it useful
Sources of Measurement Error
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Sources of Measurement Error"

Business Research Methods Essay - Measurement Error This essay explains the four major sources of error common to measurement, with two examples given in each case to support each error types. It is necessary first however, to explain the basic ideas behind the concept of measurement before addressing these in detail. We can only make sense of and use the idea of measurement, if we accept certain premises relating to the world and to the particular phenomena or phenomenon under investigation.

This involves commonly assigning values and shared meanings to concepts and ideas, often, in the form of abstract models, from which, through observing and collecting real world information, known also as variables, we acquire and extract meaningful and often valuable data. Essentially, this combining of theoretical with empirical, permits as well as justifies the use of measurement, and stringent observance of these rules, allows for better and more accurate methods for describing behaviors or in making predictions.

These take on their specific meanings through the following and now widely used scales of measurement, namely, nominal ordinal, interval, and ratio. Classifications, which by using a system of numbers, find common consent among scientists. Here then, consensus must come over how these numbers represent different agreed-to values, in order to sensibly group, sort, or differentiate between data. These numbers are ordered: that is, 'one number is greater than, less than, or equal to another number'.

i Differences connecting numbers create what is called distance between them, allowing for a scale of measurement, for example, by agreement that zero stands as the origin number, we might simply assign numbers to the above quotation. Thus, it is possible to state clearly and unambiguously that the number value one is less than the number value two, and the number value three is more than the number value two. One factor of abstract models, is their use in designing and performing studies that measure real-world variables under (as far as possible) controlled conditions.

As complete control of the environment and conditions in which these studies are conducted is not possible, by implication, error must prove an inevitably. This can and does occur frequently, a systematic resulting of bias, the rest as randomly, and occurring therefore, far more erratically.There are four major sources of error, which may taint the results of a study. These are, the respondent, the situation, the measurer (for example, the interviewer) and the instrument(s) used to record, measure or calculate the results of a study.

With the first, two examples might emerge over the respondents opinion differences on variables themselves usually considered 'stable characteristics'ii, such as social class, or ethnic grouping, the other, the result of their - temporarily or otherwise - experiencing boredom or fatigue during the study. The second, the situation, carries too, a variety of potential contaminants, or unintended unrelated factors, consisting of anything placing a strain on the environment in which the study is conducted.

Two possible examples being the effects of room temperature on measurer and participants, again, carrying the potential for fatiguing or provoking feelings of boredom in both. The third, the measurer's potential for distorting the responses they get. This might emerge in the former's unconsciously rewording questions, or, to give another example, their careless or incorrect use of the fourth source of error, the instrument(s) of measurement. The latter, may corrupt the study in proving difficult or complex to use, or even outdated, possibly unable to investigate and therefore exploit the full potential of a research study.

Rather than detracting from studies however, accounting for these major sources of error measurement, enhances and adds validity to continuing research. Word count: 599

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Sources of Measurement Error Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Sources of Measurement Error Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1506377-sources-of-measurement-error
(Sources of Measurement Error Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
Sources of Measurement Error Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1506377-sources-of-measurement-error.
“Sources of Measurement Error Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1506377-sources-of-measurement-error.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Sources of Measurement Error

Hydraulic Conductivity as Source of Error

The paper "Hydraulic Conductivity as Source of error" discusses that there are a number of ways to produce errors in the test data while performing the hydraulic conductivity test.... Some of the possible errors are The most probable error is in the way the laboratory measurements are practised in field conditions.... Although within a laboratory, slight measurement errors may possibly take places, such as hydraulic conductivity's scale measurement due to inaccuracy in the measurement of volume, time, length or weight....
1 Pages (250 words) Lab Report

Parental Expenditures on Children Education

The article “Parental Expenditures on Children Education” examines the factors influencing allocation of money on children's primary and secondary education.... The paper is based on the data received during families' survey from Consumer Expenditure Survey.... hellip; The paper seeks to explore the interdependence between family status, age, race, education, the sphere and the level of employment as well as amount of money spent on children....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Business Research Methods

The author of this report "Business Research Methods" touches upon the methods of business research.... It is mentioned here that the book under consideration talks about research design by offering the reader the basic stages in a research design.... hellip; The authors discussed exploratory versus formalized research designs, monitoring versus ex-post facto research designs, causal versus descriptive designs cross-sectional versus longitudinal designs, simulations versus field versus laboratory research designs and situations where subjects perceive no deviation....
7 Pages (1750 words) Book Report/Review

In-Circle Group on Employees' Turnover using Guanxi within LMX Approach: Saudi Arabia

Therefore, to safeguard the interests of the Saudi nationals, the government policy has introduced quota system that requires private organizations to… Thus, different industries in the private sector especially MNCs are challenged by the high turnover of employees that is adversely affecting firms' performance....
11 Pages (2750 words) Research Proposal

Error Propagation: Volumes Linearized plot: Density

In order to determine the average value of… error propagation entails combination of individual uncertainties as a means of determining the accurate value of an experimental error.... Aside from error propagation, lab experiments also benefits from the In most cases, a pair of variables under analysis may portray a non-linear relationship.... In this lab report, both concepts of error propagation and graph linearization will be utilized intensively in enhancing data analysis....
4 Pages (1000 words) Lab Report

Mechanical vibration

This requires accurate measurement of the sources of vibration on a frequent basis.... These are; One of the sources of whole-body vibration is a travelling car.... Whole body vibration refers to the form of vibration that affects the whole body system.... This type of vibration originates form use of vibrating machines such… On the other hand, hand vibration refers to the forms of vibration that enter the body through operation of hand machines such as poker vibrators....
6 Pages (1500 words) Coursework

Physical and Space Geodesy

Geographic data are often assumed to be error free after the consideration of all uncertainties.... The components of spatial uncertainties that we should consider are data precision, accuracy, completeness, consistency, accuracy/error, lineage, currency, currency, credibility, subjectivity and interrelatedness.... Accuracy/error: accuracy and error define the difference between the actual measurements and the observation of measurements based on estimation device and procedure....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Estimation of the value of gravitational acceleration g based on measurements from a simple pendulum

The value of gravitational Although the results obtained deviated slightly from the documented values, various sources of errors were discussed to account for the error noted.... The measurement of error in physical quantities involved is important in determining the accuracy of the results obtained.... The error is usually taken as the standard deviation of the measurements.... Therefore the error in measurement of length can be determined by equation 3 below Pendulums find many applications in the world including the fact that their regular motion are used to regulate pendulum clocks (Homer & Bowen, 2014)....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us