Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Part A of the “Blue Book,” Form and Style for ASTM Standards, requires that all test methods include statements of precision and bias. This practice discusses these two concepts and provides guidance for their use in statements about test methods.
Precision—A statement of precision allows potential users of a test method to assess in general terms the test method's usefulness with respect to variability in proposed applications. A statement of precision is not intended to exhibit values that can be exactly duplicated in every user's laboratory. Instead, the statement provides guidelines as to the magnitude of variability that can be expected between test results when the method is used in one, or in two or more, reasonably competent laboratories. For a discussion of precision, see Section 15.
Bias—A statement of bias furnishes guidelines on the relationship between a set of typical test results produced by the test method under specific test conditions and a related set of accepted reference values (see Section 16).  
An alternative term for bias is trueness, which has a positive connotation, in that greater bias is associated with less favorable trueness. Trueness is the systematic component of accuracy.  
Accuracy—The term “accuracy,” used in earlier editions of Practice E 177, embraces both precision and bias (see Section 17 and Note 3).
A Table of Contents is shown below, listing the concepts in this standard. TABLE OF CONTENTSSection  GENERAL CONCEPTS Test Method 5  Measurement Terminology 6   SOURCES OF VARIABILITY Experimental Realization of a Test Method 7 Operator 8  Apparatus 9  Environment 10  Sample 11  Time 12   STATISTICAL CONCEPTS Accepted Reference Value 13  Statistical Control 14  Precision 15  Bias 16  Accuracy 17  Variation of Precision and Bias with Material 18  Variation of Precision and Bias with Sources of Variability 19   COMBINATIONS OF SOURCES OF VARIABILITY Repeatability and Laboratory Bias 20  Other Within-a-Single Laboratory Prec...
SCOPE
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to present concepts necessary to the understanding of the terms “precision” and “bias” as used in quantitative test methods. This practice also describes methods of expressing precision and bias and, in a final section, gives examples of how statements on precision and bias may be written for ASTM test methods.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use.

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
An American National Standard
Designation:E177–08
Standard Practice for
1
Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E177; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3.1.1.1 Discussion—A national or international organiza-
tion, referred to in 3.1.1 (2), generally maintains measurement
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to present concepts
standards to which the reference values obtained are traceable.
necessary to the understanding of the terms “precision” and
3.1.2 accuracy, n—the closeness of agreement between a
“bias” as used in quantitative test methods. This practice also
test result and an accepted reference value.
describes methods of expressing precision and bias and, in a
3.1.2.1 Discussion—The term accuracy, when applied to a
final section, gives examples of how statements on precision
set of test results, involves a combination of a random
and bias may be written for ASTM test methods.
component and of a common systematic error or bias compo-
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
nent.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.3 bias, n—the difference between the expectation of the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
test results and an accepted reference value.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.3.1 Discussion—Bias is the total systematic error as
bility of regulatory requirements prior to use.
contrasted to random error. There may be one or more
2. Referenced Documents systematic error components contributing to the bias. A larger
2
systematic difference from the accepted reference value is
2.1 ASTM Standards:
reflected by a larger bias value.
E178 Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
3.1.4 characteristic, n—a property of items in a sample or
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
population which, when measured, counted or otherwise ob-
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
served, helps to distinguish between the items. E2282
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
3.1.5 intermediate precision, n—the closeness of agreement
E2282 Guide for Defining the Test Result of a Test Method
between test results obtained under specified intermediate
3. Terminology
precision conditions.
3.1.5.1 Discussion—The specific measure and the specific
3.1 Definitions: Terminology E456 provides a more exten-
conditions must be specified for each intermediate measure of
sive list of terms in E11 standards.
precision; thus, “standard deviation of test results among
3.1.1 accepted reference value, n—a value that serves as an
operators in a laboratory,” or “day-to-day standard deviation
agreed-upon reference for comparison, and which is derived
within a laboratory for the same operator.”
as: (1) a theoretical or established value, based on scientific
3.1.5.2 Discussion—Because the training of operators, the
principles, (2) an assigned or certified value, based on experi-
agreement of different pieces of equipment in the same
mental work of some national or international organization, or
laboratory and the variation of environmental conditions with
(3) a consensus or certified value, based on collaborative
longer time intervals all depend on the degree of within-
experimental work under the auspices of a scientific or
laboratory control, the intermediate measures of precision are
engineering group.
likely to vary appreciably from laboratory to laboratory. Thus,
intermediate precisions may be more characteristic of indi-
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E11 on Quality and
vidual laboratories than of the test method.
Statistics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E11.20 on Test Method
3.1.6 intermediate precision conditions, n—conditions un-
Evaluation and Quality Control.
der which test results are obtained with the same test method
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2008. Published October 2008. Originally
approved in 1961. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as E177 – 06b. DOI:
usingtestunitsortestspecimenstakenatrandomfromasingle
10.1520/E0177-08.
quantity of material that is as nearly homogeneous as possible,
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
and with changing conditions such as operator, measuring
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summa
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
An American National Standard
Designation:E177–06b Designation:E177–08
Standard Practice for
1
Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 177; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 Thepurposeofthispracticeistopresentconceptsnecessarytotheunderstandingoftheterms“precision”and“bias”asused
in quantitative test methods. This practice also describes methods of expressing precision and bias and, in a final section, gives
examples of how statements on precision and bias may be written for ASTM test methods.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
requirements prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E 178 Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
E 456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E 2282 Guide for Defining the Test Result of a Test Method
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions: Terminology E 456 provides a more extensive list of terms in E11 standards.
3.1.1 accepted reference value, n—a value that serves as an agreed-upon reference for comparison, and which is derived as: (1)
a theoretical or established value, based on scientific principles, (2) an assigned or certified value, based on experimental work of
some national or international organization, or (3) a consensus or certified value, based on collaborative experimental work under
the auspices of a scientific or engineering group.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—A national or international organization, referred to in (2), generally maintains measurement standards to
which the reference values obtained are traceable.
3.1.2 accuracy, n—the closeness of agreement between a test result and an accepted reference value.
3.1.2.1 Discussion—The term accuracy, when applied to a set of test results, involves a combination of a random component
and of a common systematic error or bias component.
3.1.3 bias, n—the difference between the expectation of the test results and an accepted reference value.
3.1.3.1 Discussion—Bias is the total systematic error as contrasted to random error.There may be one or more systematic error
components contributing to the bias.Alarger systematic difference from the accepted reference value is reflected by a larger bias
value.
3.1.4 characteristic, n—a property of items in a sample or population which, when measured, counted or otherwise observed,
helps to distinguish between the items. E 2282
3.1.5 intermediateprecision,n—theclosenessofagreementbetweentestresultsobtainedunderspecifiedintermediateprecision
conditions.
3.1.4.1
3.1.5.1 Discussion—The specific measure and the specific conditions must be specified for each intermediate measure of
precision; thus, “standard deviation of test results among operators in a laboratory,” or “day-to-day standard deviation within a
laboratory for the same operator.”
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E11 on Quality and Statistics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E11.20 on Test Method
Evaluation and Quality Control.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2006.Oct. 1, 2008. Published January 2007.October 2008. Originally approved in 1961. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as
E 177 – 06ab.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book ofASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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E177–08
3.1.4.2
3.1.5.2 Discussion—Because the training of operators, the agreement of different pieces of equipment in the same laboratory
and the variation of environmental conditions with longer time intervals all depend on the degree of within-laboratory control, the
intermediate measures
...

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