Measurement Error
Measurement error refers to a circumstance in which the actual empirical value
of a variable cannot be observed or measured precisely. The error is thus the
difference between the actual value of that variable and what can be observed or
measured. For instance, household consumption/expenditures over some intervals are
often of great empirical interest (in many applications because of their theoretical role
under the forward-looking theories of consumption). These are usually observed or
measured via household surveys in which respondents are asked to catalog their
consumption/expenditures over some recall window. However, these respondents
often need help recalling how much they spent on the various items over that
window. Their reported consumption/expenditures are thus unlikely to reflect
precisely what they or their households spent over the recall interval.
Measurement error is the difference between the true value and the observed
score of a concept in measurement. Measurement error can be random or systematic,
affecting the quality of measurements and the reliability of statistical analyses The
notion of measurement error rests on the idea that a theoretical concept and its
measurement can be distinguished. Measurement error is any deviation from the true
value of the concept in the measurement. Thus, any scientific observation represents
a combination of the true score of the concept and error; measurement error is
conceptualized as the difference between the true value and the observed score of a
concept.
Measurement error occurs when the fit between the concept or the data-
generating procedure, on the one hand, and the data, on the other hand, is insufficient.
Measurement error can be divided into random error and systematic error. While
random error ‘only’ results in inefficient estimates, systematic measurement error
biases empirical results.
Dodge, Y. (2003) The Oxford Dictionary of Statistical Terms, OUP
Словник технічних термінів(англ) https://circuitglobe.com/
John Robert Taylor (1999). An Introduction to Error Analysis: The Study of Uncertainties in Physical Measurements. University Science Books. p94.
Weber, P. (2017). Measurement Error. Stuttgart: University of Hohenheim. Babbie, Earl (2004). The Practice of Social Research. 10th Edition. Thomson: TENTH EDITION.
Measurement Error. Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved from: https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/sociology-and-social- reform/sociology-general-terms-and-concepts/measurement-error