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%.

methodology

margin of error

Allowable deviation from truth

error bars · precision · accuracy · upper bound · lower bound · two-sided · one-sided

application

ANOVA

Compares means among groups

survey research · meta-analysis · correlation coefficient · proportion · Monte Carlo · simulation · replication

probability

p-value

Probability under null hypothesis

ninety-nine percent · type I error

distribution

t-distribution

Probability shape for limited samples

degrees of freedom · percentile · quantile · log-normal

Opposites
certainty expression

confidence intervalsabsolute certainty

State of having no doubt

certainty · false precision · known quantities · ground truth

Family

confidence, confident, interval, confidential, confidently, unconfident, confiding, overconfidence, diffidence

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