Võrreldusalust

Võrreldusalust is a term used in Estonian to denote the reference point or anchor used when performing comparisons. It is the baseline against which other values, forms, or scenarios are evaluated, allowing for consistent interpretation of differences and effects. The concept is closely related to the English “baseline” or “basis of comparison.” The term combines võrrel- (to compare) and alust (base or starting point), signaling its role as the starting point for assessment.

In statistics and data analysis, võrreldusalust typically means the baseline value or control condition. For example, in an experiment the pre-treatment measurement serves as the võrreldusalust for evaluating the effect of an intervention. In A/B testing, the current variant may be treated as the võrreldusalust against which new variations are judged. In linguistics, the term can be used to describe the standard form or reference against which inflected forms or dialectal variants are compared.

The choice of võrreldusalust influences interpretation, and baselines can be affected by context, time, or measurement methods. Analysts should document the rationale for selecting the baseline and consider normalizing results when comparing across different conditions or populations.

See also: baseline, basis of comparison, reference value.