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Precision is the closeness of agreement between multiple sources or representations of information. The following are illustrative examples of precision.Precision implies that information is accurate such that it conforms to well tested and documented facts. As such, errors and bias can cause information to be imprecise. For example, a student measures the temperature at which sea water freezes by adding table salt to water and slowly decreasing the temperature of the solution until it shows evidence of freezing. This experiment has an error because the minerals in sea water differ from table salt. As such, measurements in the experiment may be close to each other and appear to be precise. However, if you compare to well established evidence, a wide gap may be seen in measurements.
MeasurementPrecision is the difference between a measurement and its true value. This can be estimated by taking multiple measurements of the same thing and calculating the standard deviation of the set. For example, the four measurements in the red experiment below are more precise than the four measurements of the yellow experiment.
SensitivitySensitivity is the number of true positives that are correctly identified by a test. For example, the number of people who are sick who are correctly identified by a blood test for a disease. Sensitivity is a type of precision.SpecificitySpecificity is the number of true negatives that are correctly identified by a test. This is another type of precision. For example, the number of healthy people who are correctly identified as not having a disease by a particular test.
RoundingRounding numbers reduces precision because a rounded number is likely to be further from the underlying true value. For example, 14.8763323989974 is more precise than the same number rounded to 14.9.ResolutionResolution is the ability of a measurement to capture significant digits. For example, a scale that measures a banana as 0.335434634374232211 pounds as opposed to a scale that measures a banana as 0.34 pounds. This has the same effect as rounding as a low resolution tool or process produces measurements that are further from true values.
CalculationAn imprecision in an input value can result in a proportional or larger imprecision in the output of a calculation. For example, a radar gun determines an object moved 100 meters in 4.4 seconds rounded down from the true value of 4.4499 seconds. This results in the following calculation of speed. 3600 / (4.4 × 10) = 81.818181 kmh or 50.839461 mph = 51 mphUsing the more precise true value of 4.4499:3600 / (4.4499 × 10) = 80.900694 kmh or 50.2693606836 = 50 mph As such, by rounding the input parameter the calculation becomes less precise.
LanguageLanguage is commonly imprecise. This is done to make information interesting, short and consumable. For example, you might say "Japan has experienced deflation for 20 years." This isn't at all precise as it doesn't mention what years or how much deflation occurred. However, it gets across a general point that is somewhat truthful. A more precise way of saying the same thing would be to state that Japan's consumer price index was a 100.8 in January 1994 and 100.7 in January 2014 indicating that over a period of 20 years prices had stayed more or less the same despite years of mild deflation mixed with years of mild inflation.
Thought & MemoryHuman thought processes and memory tend to deal with high level concepts and impressions as opposed to precise detail. This is one of the primary differences between man and machine. A digital photograph will capture visual information with some precision that remains relatively unchanged with the exception of wear and tear on the media where it is stored. People tend to have high level and conceptual memories of what they see that quickly fade with time and can be influenced by later emotions and information.AutomationBeyond information, precision can be used to describe the sameness of work outputs. For example, a robot drilling holes all day whereby each hole looks identical unless you use a high powered microscope to identify minor differences.PerformanceHuman don't tend to be as precise as machines and commonly rely on machines to increase the precision of their work. In some cases, imprecision is valued because it is a sign of human artistic abilities. For example, a wabi-sabi aesthetic that is achieved by producing imperfect pottery by hand.|
| Type | | | Definition (1) | The closeness of agreement between multiple sources or representations of information. | | Definition (2) | The sameness of work products. | | Related Concepts | |
Information Science
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ReferencesConsumer Price Index of All Items in Japan, Index 2010=100, Not Seasonally Adjusted, Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis.
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