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Related Concept Videos

Random and Systematic Errors01:20

Random and Systematic Errors

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Scientists always try their best to record measurements with the utmost accuracy and precision. However, sometimes errors do occur. These errors can be random or systematic. Random errors are observed due to the inconsistency or fluctuation in the measurement process, or variations in the quantity itself that is being measured. Such errors fluctuate from being greater than or less than the true value in repeated measurements. Consider a scientist measuring the length of an earthworm using a...
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Systematic Error: Methodological and Sampling Errors01:15

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In the case of systematic errors, the sources can be identified, and the errors can be subsequently minimized by addressing these sources. According to the source, systematic errors can be divided into sampling, instrumental, methodological, and personal errors.
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Types of Errors: Detection and Minimization01:12

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Error is the deviation of the obtained result from the true, expected value or the estimated central value. Errors are expressed in absolute or relative terms.
Absolute error in a measurement is the numerical difference from the true or central value. Relative error is the ratio between absolute error and the true or central value, expressed as a percentage.
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Uncertainty in Measurement: Accuracy and Precision03:37

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Scientists typically make repeated measurements of a quantity to ensure the quality of their findings and to evaluate both the precision and the accuracy of their results. Measurements are said to be precise if they yield very similar results when repeated in the same manner. A measurement is considered accurate if it yields a result that is very close to the true or the accepted value. Precise values agree with each other; accurate values agree with a true value. 
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Propagation of Uncertainty from Systematic Error01:10

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The atomic mass of an element varies due to the relative ratio of its isotopes. A sample's relative proportion of oxygen isotopes influences its average atomic mass. For instance, if we were to measure the atomic mass of oxygen from a sample, the mass would be a weighted average of the isotopic masses of oxygen in that sample. Since a single sample is not likely to perfectly reflect the true atomic mass of oxygen for all the molecules of oxygen on Earth, the mass we obtain from this...
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Random Error01:04

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Random or indeterminate errors originate from various uncontrollable variables, such as variations in environmental conditions, instrument imperfections, or the inherent variability of the phenomena being measured. Usually, these errors cannot be predicted, estimated, or characterized because their direction and magnitude often vary in magnitude and direction even during consecutive measurements. As a result, they are difficult to eliminate. However, the aggregate effect of these errors can be...
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Perspectives on scientific error.

D van Ravenzwaaij1, M Bakker2, R Heesen3,4

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, Heymans Building, room 239, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands.

Royal Society Open Science
|July 21, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Many published scientific findings are unreproducible and potentially false. This paper examines scientific error across institutional, methodological, statistical, and publishing reforms to reduce future research errors and spurious findings.

Keywords:
institutional reformmeta-sciencemethodologypublishingscientific error

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Area of Science:

  • Scientific methodology
  • Research integrity
  • Publication ethics

Background:

  • Empirical evidence and theoretical arguments suggest a high rate of non-replication in published research.
  • A significant proportion of published scientific findings may be false, leading to replication failures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a broad perspective on scientific error contributing to replication failures.
  • To explore historical reforms and future opportunities for improving research culture and publication integrity.

Main Methods:

  • The paper adopts a historical perspective on reform efforts.
  • It organizes the discussion around four key themes: institutional, methodological, statistical, and publishing reform.
  • Illustrative narratives of a fictional researcher's cycle are used to demonstrate potential errors.

Main Results:

  • Analysis highlights systemic issues across research institutions, methodologies, statistical practices, and publication processes.
  • The paper identifies specific areas for improvement within each reform theme.

Conclusions:

  • A comprehensive reform agenda is proposed to foster a less error-prone research culture.
  • Implementing these reforms aims to reduce the number of spurious findings in scientific publications.