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Estimation of the Physical Quantities

Estimation of the Physical Quantities

On many occasions, physicists, other scientists, and engineers need to make estimates of a particular quantity. These are sometimes referred to as guesstimates, order-of-magnitude approximations, back-of-the-envelope calculations, or Fermi calculations. The physicist Enrico Fermi was famous for his ability to estimate various kinds of data with surprising precision. Estimating does not mean guessing a number or a formula at random. Instead, estimation means using prior experience and sound...

What are Estimates?

What are Estimates?

It isn't easy to measure a parameter such as the mean height or the mean weight of a population. So, we draw samples from the population and calculate the mean height or mean weight of the individuals in the sample. This sample data acts as a representative measure of the population parameter. These sample statistics are known as estimates.
The estimate for the mean of a sample is denoted by ͞x, whereas the mean of the population is designated as μ. Further, parameters such as the mean,...

Experimental Designs

Experimental Designs

An experimental design is a systematic process that allows researchers to evaluate the relationship between dependent and independent variables. There are three widely used types of experimental design - pre-experimental design, true experimental design, and quasi-experimental design. In pre-experimental design, the researcher compares the data before and after some interventions or treatments. The true-experimental design has more than one purposefully created group, a commonly measured...

Statistical Significance

Statistical Significance

Once data is collected from both the experimental and the control groups, a statistical analysis is conducted to find out if there are meaningful differences between the two groups. A statistical analysis determines how likely any difference found is due to chance (and thus not meaningful). In psychology, group differences are considered meaningful, or significant, if the odds that these differences occurred by chance alone are 5 percent or less. Stated another way, if we repeated this...

Comparing Experimental Results: Student's t-Test

Comparing Experimental Results: Student's t-Test

The t-test is a statistical method used to compare the sample mean with a population mean or compare two means from two data sets. The test statistic is calculated from the standard deviation, mean, and number of measurements in the data set at a selected confidence interval and then compared to a table of critical values at this confidence level. If the test statistic is smaller than the critical value, the null hypothesis is accepted. In this case, we state that the difference between the...

Randomized Experiments

Randomized Experiments

The randomization process involves assigning study participants randomly to experimental or control groups based on their probability of being equally assigned. Randomization is meant to eliminate selection bias and balance known and unknown confounding factors so that the control group is similar to the treatment group as much as possible. A computer program and a random number generator can be used to assign participants to groups in a way that minimizes bias.
Simple randomization
Simple...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Published on: March 2, 2015

It pays to compare: an experimental study on computational estimation.

Jon R Star¹, Bethany Rittle-Johnson

¹Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. jon_star@harvard.edu

Journal of Experimental Child Psychology

|January 17, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Comparing strategies enhances learning for children. Students who compared estimation methods showed improved problem-solving flexibility and conceptual knowledge, especially those with prior knowledge.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Published on: March 2, 2015

Area of Science:

Cognitive Science
Educational Psychology
Mathematics Education

Background:

Comparing examples is a fundamental cognitive process crucial for learning in both children and adults.
Effective instructional strategies are sought to improve learning outcomes in various subjects, including mathematics.

Purpose of the Study:

To experimentally evaluate the benefits of supporting comparative learning in a classroom setting.
To investigate how comparing alternative solution strategies impacts learning about computational estimation in children.

Main Methods:

An experimental study was conducted with 157 fifth- and sixth-grade students.
Students learned computational estimation through either comparing strategies or reflecting on them individually.
Performance was assessed using posttests and retention tests measuring problem-solving flexibility and conceptual knowledge.

Main Results:

Students who engaged in comparing strategies demonstrated superior flexibility as problem solvers.
Comparison also led to enhanced conceptual knowledge, particularly for students with pre-existing estimation strategy knowledge.
The positive effects of comparison were evident at both immediate posttest and delayed retention test.

Conclusions:

Comparing alternative solution strategies is an effective instructional practice for learning computational estimation.
This comparative approach supports flexible problem-solving skills and deeper conceptual understanding.
The benefits of comparison are most pronounced for learners who possess foundational knowledge in the subject area.