TOPICS
Search

Statistical Bias

Statistical bias is a systematic departure of the average result of a statistical procedure from the quantity it is intended to estimate. For an estimator theta^^ of a parameter theta, the estimator bias is

Bias(theta^^)=<theta^^>-theta.

The estimator is unbiased when this difference is zero. Bias can also result from systematic sampling, measurement, or treatment-assignment procedures, so randomization is an important safeguard in experimental design.

See also

Biased Estimator, Estimator Bias, Experimental Design, Measurement Error, Nonresponse Bias, Response Bias, Undercoverage, Unbiased Estimator

Explore with Wolfram|Alpha

References

National Institute of Standards and Technology. "Bias." In NIST/SEMATECH e-Handbook of Statistical Methods. https://www.itl.nist.gov/div898/handbook/glossary.htm.

Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Statistical Bias." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/StatisticalBias.html

Subject classifications