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 8.1.
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 9.1).  
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 E177, embraces both precision and bias (see 9.3 and Note 3).
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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Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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
Designation: E177 − 10 AnAmerican National Standard
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 3.1.2.1 Discussion—A national or international
organization, referred to in 3.1.2 (2), generally maintains
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to present concepts
measurement standards to which the reference values obtained
necessary to the understanding of the terms “precision” and
are traceable.
“bias” as used in quantitative test methods. This practice also
3.1.3 accuracy, n—the closeness of agreement between a
describes methods of expressing precision and bias and, in a
test result and an accepted reference value.
final section, gives examples of how statements on precision
3.1.3.1 Discussion—The term accuracy, when applied to a
and bias may be written for ASTM test methods.
set of test results, involves a combination of a random
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
component and of a common systematic error or bias compo-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
nent.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.4 bias, n—the difference between the expectation of the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
test results and an accepted reference value.
bility of regulatory requirements prior to use.
3.1.4.1 Discussion—Bias is the total systematic error as
2. Referenced Documents
contrasted to random error. There may be one or more
2
systematic error components contributing to the bias. A larger
2.1 ASTM Standards:
systematic difference from the accepted reference value is
E178 Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
reflected by a larger bias value.
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to 3.1.5 characteristic, n—a property of items in a sample or
Determine the Precision of a Test Method population which, when measured, counted or otherwise
E2282 Guide for Defining the Test Result of a Test Method observed, helps to distinguish between the items. E2282
3.1.6 intermediate precision, n—the closeness of agreement
3. Terminology
between test results obtained under specified intermediate
3.1 Definitions:
precision conditions.
3.1.1 Terminology E456 provides a more extensive list of
3.1.6.1 Discussion—The specific measure and the specific
terms in E11 standards.
conditions must be specified for each intermediate measure of
3.1.2 accepted reference value, n—a value that serves as an
precision; thus, “standard deviation of test results among
agreed-upon reference for comparison, and which is derived
operators in a laboratory,” or “day-to-day standard deviation
as: (1) a theoretical or established value, based on scientific
within a laboratory for the same operator.”
principles, (2) an assigned or certified value, based on experi-
3.1.6.2 Discussion—Because the training of operators, the
mental work of some national or international organization, or
agreement of different pieces of equipment in the same
(3) a consensus or certified value, based on collaborative
laboratory and the variation of environmental conditions with
experimental work under the auspices of a scientific or
longer time intervals all depend on the degree of within-
engineering group.
laboratory control, the intermediate measures of precision are
likely to vary appreciably from laboratory to laboratory. Thus,
1 intermediate precisions may be more characteristic of indi-
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E11 on Quality and
Statistics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E11.20 on Test Method
vidual laboratories than of the test method.
Evaluation and Quality Control.
3.1.7 intermediate precision conditions, n—conditions un-
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2010. Published November 2010. Originally
der which test results are obtained with the same test method
approved in 1961. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as E177 – 08. DOI:
10.1520/E0177-10.
usingtestunitsortestspecimenstakenatrandomfromasingle
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
quantity of material that is as nearly homogeneous as possible,
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
and with changing conditions such as operator, measuring
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Sum
...

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:E177–08 Designation:E177–10
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
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:
E178 Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E2282 Guide for Defining the Test Result of a Test Method
3. Terminology
3.1Definitions: Terminology
3.1 Defintions—Terminology E456 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 3.1.1 (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. E2282
3.1.5 intermediateprecision,n—theclosenessofagreementbetweentestresultsobtainedunderspecifiedintermediateprecision
conditions.
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 Oct. 1, 2008.2010. Published October 2008.November 2010. Originally approved in 1961. Last previous edition approved in 20062008 as
E177–06b.E177 – 08. DOI: 10.1520/E0177-108.
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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E177–10
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 co
...

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