Kredibiliteettiväliä

Kredibiliteettiväliä, often translated as credibility interval or confidence interval in English statistical contexts, refers to a range of values that is likely to contain a population parameter with a certain level of confidence. It is a fundamental concept in inferential statistics, used to quantify the uncertainty associated with estimating unknown population characteristics from sample data.

The calculation of a credibility interval involves using sample statistics, such as the sample mean or proportion, and applying a margin of error. This margin of error is determined by the variability within the sample and the desired confidence level. A higher confidence level, such as 95% or 99%, implies a wider interval, reflecting greater certainty that the true population parameter lies within that range. Conversely, a lower confidence level would result in a narrower interval, but with less assurance.

Credibility intervals are crucial for interpreting the results of statistical studies. For instance, when a study reports a mean score with a credibility interval of [X, Y], it suggests that if the study were repeated many times, 95% (or the chosen confidence level) of the calculated intervals would contain the true population mean. It is important to note that the interval itself does not state that the true parameter is within the interval with that probability; rather, it expresses confidence in the procedure used to generate the interval. The term "kredibiliteettiväliä" is commonly encountered in Finnish statistical literature and practice.