PrecisionandBias.PDFVIP

Precision and Bias Measurement - Method and Process What are precision and bias? W alter Shewhart said “It is important to realize ... that there are two aspects of an operation of measure- ment; one is quantitative and the other qualitative. One consists of numbers or pointer readings such as the observed lengths in n measurements of the length of a line, and the other consists of the physical manipulations of the physical things by someone in accord with instructions that we shall assume to be describable in words constituting a text [Shewhart 1939, p.130] This leads to two concepts of measurement; a method of measurement and a measure- ment process. “A measurement method consists of a prescription or written procedure by which one can go about the business of making measurements on the properties of some physical material. ... A measurement process includes: (a) measurement method, (b) system of causes, (c) repetition, and (d) capability of control. A measurement process we could call a realization of a method in terms of particular individuals, particular equipment, and particular material to be tested.” [ Murphy, 1961] Properties of the Measurement Process Statistical Control If we accept the concept of a measurement process we then move to thinking of controlling that process. We can borrow terms from the language of statistical quality control. To qualify as a specification of a method of measurement, a set of instructions must be sufficiently definite to insure the statistical stability of repeated measurements of a single quantity, that is, derived measurement processes must be capable of meeting the criteria of statistical control. [Eisenhart,1963 and Murphy, 1961] Statistical control connotes a sense of consistency or predictability, but there is much more to it. A series of repeat measurements of a quantity provide a logical basis for predicting the behav ior for future measur ement