Systematic error
Systematic errors are errors that are consistent and repeatable. They are caused by an imperfection in the measurement process and can be difficult to identify and correct.
Systematic errors can be difficult to identify and correct and can have a significant impact on the accuracy of the data. It is important to take steps to minimize systematic errors in order to ensure accurate and reliable data.
Example of Systematic error
A common example of systematic error is a calibration error. Calibration errors occur when an instrument is improperly calibrated and the readings it produces are not accurate. This can lead to inaccurate results. For example, if a thermometer is calibrated incorrectly it will read a wrong temperature, leading to incorrect data. Systematic errors can be minimized by properly calibrating and maintaining instruments and by carefully following experimental procedures.
Formula of Systematic error
Systematic error can be calculated using the formula: Systematic Error = Actual Value - Expected Value. This formula can be used to measure the difference between the actual value and the expected value and calculate the systematic error. For example, if the expected measurement is 10 but the actual measurement is 12, the systematic error would be 2.
When to use Systematic error
Systematic error should be used when trying to identify and correct errors that are consistent and repeatable. This type of error is often difficult to identify and can have a significant impact on the accuracy of the data. Systematic errors are typically caused by an imperfection in the measurement process and should be addressed in order to ensure accurate and reliable data.
Types of Systematic error
Systematic errors can be divided into three categories: instrumental errors, human errors, and environmental errors.
- Instrumental errors are caused by imperfections in the measuring instrument. This can be caused by calibration error, mechanical error, or environmental conditions.
- Human errors are caused by the experimenter's mistakes or bias and can be caused by misreading the instrument, incorrect calculation, or incorrect recording of data.
- Environmental errors are caused by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and pressure, and can affect the accuracy of the data.
Steps of fighting systematic error
Systematic errors can be minimized in a number of ways. The first step is to identify the source of the error. This can be done by examining the measuring instruments, the experimental setup, and the environmental conditions. Once the source of the error has been identified, corrective action can be taken to reduce or eliminate the source of the error. Examples of corrective actions include calibrating the instruments, changing the experimental setup, and controlling the environmental conditions.
Advantages of Systematic error monitoring
Systematic errors have several advantages over random errors. They are consistent, repeatable, and can often be corrected for. Furthermore, systematic errors can be used to identify sources of error in a measurement process and can be used to improve the accuracy of the data. Additionally, systematic errors can be useful in determining the precision of a measurement and can be used to compare different measurement processes.
Limitations of Systematic error monitoring
Systematic errors can be difficult to identify and correct and can have a significant impact on the accuracy of the data. They can also be expensive and time consuming to address. Additionally, they can introduce bias into the data which can lead to incorrect conclusions being drawn. Finally, the accuracy of the results can be affected by the presence of systematic errors, and they can lead to incorrect decisions being made. Therefore, it is important to take steps to minimize systematic errors in order to ensure accurate and reliable data.
There are several approaches for minimizing and controlling systematic errors, such as:
- Instrument Calibration: Calibration is the process of ensuring that instruments are properly calibrated to the correct values. This helps to ensure that any errors in the instrument are minimized.
- Standardization: Standardization is the process of ensuring that the same procedure is followed for each experiment. This helps to reduce any human errors that may occur during the experiment.
- Quality Control: Quality control is the process of ensuring that the data is consistent and accurate. Quality control involves checking the data for any errors and making corrections if necessary.
| Systematic error — recommended articles |
| Measurement error — Measurement uncertainty — Reliability of information — Statistical population — Assignable cause — Overfitting — Attributable risk — Check digit — Multicollinearity |
References
- Meacham, F., Boffelli, D., Dhahbi, J., Martin, D. I., Singer, M., & Pachter, L. (2011). Identification and correction of systematic error in high-throughput sequence data. BMC bioinformatics, 12(1), 1-11.
- Heinrich, J., & Lyons, L. (2007). Systematic errors. Annu. Rev. Nucl. Part. Sci., 57, 145-169.
