Imputatsiooni

Imputatsiooni is a term used to describe the attribution or assignment of something—such as data values, responsibility, knowledge, or cost—to a person, object, or statistical record. In many contexts it corresponds to the English concept of "imputation" and appears in legal, philosophical, statistical, and economic discourse.

In statistics and data analysis, imputatsiooni refers to methods for filling in missing data. Common approaches include single-value techniques (mean or median substitution), model-based methods (regression imputation), hot-deck imputation (using values from similar records), and multiple imputation, which generates several plausible datasets to reflect uncertainty. Proper imputation seeks to reduce bias and preserve variability while relying on assumptions about the mechanism that produced the missingness (missing completely at random, missing at random, or missing not at random).

In law and ethics, imputatsiooni denotes the attribution of actions, intent, or knowledge to an individual or entity—for example, imputing liability to a corporation for acts of its agents. Philosophically, it can describe ascribing causal responsibility or moral blame.

Imputatsiooni practices raise methodological and normative issues: statistical imputation can introduce bias if assumptions are incorrect; legal imputation balances fairness and practical accountability; and philosophical discussions examine when attribution is justified. In applied settings, transparent reporting, sensitivity analysis, and careful justification of assumptions are considered best practice.