Measurement Error

• Also called Observational Error

• The difference between a measured quantity and its true value.
• It includes:
• random error
• systematic error
• Measurement error is the real variation from the true score, and
includes both random error and systematic error:
Observed score = True score + random error + systematic error
Different Measures of Error
1. Absolute Error: the amount of error in your measurement.
2. Greatest Possible Error: defined as one half of the measuring unit.
3. Instrument Error: error caused by an inaccurate instrument
4. Margin of Error: an amount above and below your measurement.
5. Measurement Location Error: caused by an instrument being placed
somewhere it shouldn’t.
6. Operator Error: human factors that cause error.
7. Percent Error: another way of expressing measurement error.
8. Relative Error: the ratio of the absolute error to the accepted
measurement.
Absolute Error
• the amount of error in your measurements
• the difference between the measured value and “true” value
• formula for the absolute error (Δx):
Where:
(Δx) = |xi – x| xi is the measurement,
x is the true value.

• How to Calculate Absolute Error:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmDeNjZ1gz0
Percent Error
• Another way of expressing measurement error.

• How to Calculate Percent Error:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTtrOUUJUZQ
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h--PfS3E9Ao (combine measurement
Error and Percent Error)
Relative Error
• the ratio of the absolute error to the accepted measurement.
• Formula:

• How to Calculate Relative Error:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na29iurC1mM
Margin of Error
• The range of values below and above the sample statistic in a
confidence interval.
• The confidence interval is a way to show what the uncertainty is with
a certain statistic
• The Margin of Error can be calculated in two ways:
1. Margin of error = Critical value x Standard deviation
2. Margin of error = Critical value x Standard error of the statistic

• How to Calculate Margin of Error:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV_BwPHWGh8
Ways to Reduce Measurement Error
• Double check all measurements for accuracy.
• Double check your formulas are correct.
• Make sure observers and measurement takers are well trained.
• Make the measurement with the instrument that has the highest
precision.
• Take the measurements under controlled conditions.
• Pilot test your measuring instruments.
• Use multiple measures for the same construct.