confidence intervals
Statistical precision bounds
A confidence interval is a statistical range likely to contain an unknown value.
Rather than claiming a population's average height is exactly 5'9", a researcher might report it as 5'8" to 5'10" with 95% confidence—meaning if the study were repeated many times, 95% of such intervals would capture the true value.
The width reflects precision: narrower intervals suggest more certainty, wider ones less.
The poll showed 52% support, with a 95% confidence interval of 49% to 55%.
Allowable deviation from truth
- sample sizeQuantity of observations taken
- standard errorStatistic's expected deviation measure
- bootstrapStart without external resources
- error barsStatistical uncertainty display
precision · accuracy · upper bound · lower bound · two-sided · one-sided
Compares means among groups
- hypothesis testingStatistical method for evaluating claims
- clinical trialsControlled health research experiments
- pollingSystematic opinion gathering
- survey researchData collection via questionnaires
meta-analysis · correlation coefficient · proportion · Monte Carlo · simulation · replication
Probability under null hypothesis
- likelihoodChance something will occur
- BayesianPrior-to-posterior probability approach
- frequentistRepeated-sampling probability adherent
- ninety-nine percentOne short of complete
Probability shape for limited samples
- z-scoreStandardized deviation measure
- normal distributionBell-shaped probability curve
- chi-squareStatistic for categorical data
- degrees of freedomNumber of independent variables
margin of error
Allowable deviation from truth
- sample sizeQuantity of observations taken
- standard errorStatistic's expected deviation measure
- bootstrapStart without external resources
error bars · precision · accuracy · upper bound · lower bound · two-sided · one-sided
ANOVA
Compares means among groups
- hypothesis testingStatistical method for evaluating claims
- clinical trialsControlled health research experiments
- pollingSystematic opinion gathering
survey research · meta-analysis · correlation coefficient · proportion · Monte Carlo · simulation · replication
p-value
Probability under null hypothesis
- likelihoodChance something will occur
- BayesianPrior-to-posterior probability approach
- frequentistRepeated-sampling probability adherent
t-distribution
Probability shape for limited samples
- z-scoreStandardized deviation measure
- normal distributionBell-shaped probability curve
- chi-squareStatistic for categorical data
confidence intervalsabsolute certainty
State of having no doubt
certainty · false precision · known quantities · ground truth
confidence, confident, interval, confidential, confidently, unconfident, confiding, overconfidence, diffidence