mittausväliisyyttä

Mittaamisväliisyyttä, often translated as measurement uncertainty, is a fundamental concept in metrology and all quantitative scientific endeavors. It quantifies the doubt or dispersion associated with a measurement result. No measurement can be perfectly exact; there will always be a range within which the true value is likely to lie. Measurement uncertainty expresses this range.

It arises from various sources, including inherent limitations of measuring instruments, environmental conditions (like temperature or humidity), variations in the object being measured, and imperfections in the measurement procedure itself. Understanding and quantifying measurement uncertainty is crucial for interpreting measurement results correctly, comparing data from different sources, and making informed decisions based on measurements.

Measurement uncertainty is typically expressed as a range, often represented by a standard uncertainty (a standard deviation) or an expanded uncertainty, which provides a wider interval with a stated level of confidence. For instance, a measurement might be reported as 10.5 ± 0.2 units, meaning the true value is likely between 10.3 and 10.7 units. Proper evaluation of measurement uncertainty involves identifying all significant sources of error, estimating their magnitudes, and combining them appropriately to arrive at the overall uncertainty. This process ensures the reliability and credibility of scientific and industrial measurements.