Practical vocabualry (bio, chem)

Accuracy

A measurement result judged to be close to the true value.

Calibration

The process of marking a scale on a measuring instrument by establishing the relationship between its indications and standard or reference quantity values.

Data

Information, either qualitative or quantitative, that has been collected.

Measurement Error

The difference between a measured value and the true value.

Anomalies

Values in a set of results judged not to be part of the variation caused by random uncertainty.

Random Error

Errors that cause readings to be spread about the true value, varying unpredictably from one measurement to the next.

Systematic Error

Errors that cause readings to differ from the true value by a consistent amount each time a measurement is made.

How can the effect of random errors be reduced?

By making more measurements and calculating a new mean.

What should be done if a systematic error is suspected?

Repeat data collection using a different technique or set of equipment and compare the results.