Measurement error

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ECS-001163",
  "term": "Measurement error",
  "field": "Economic statistics",
  "definitions": [
    "Extent to which a respondent's reported value differs from the true value.\n\nNote: \"Text taken from D. Kasprzyk, “Chapter IX - Measurement error in household surveys: sources and measurement” in Household Sample Surveys in Developing and Transition Countries - • Questionnaire: the effect of the questionnaire design, its visual layout, the topics it covers, and the wording of the questions. • Data-collection method: the effect of how the questionnaire is administered to the respondent (for example, mail, in person, or diary). Respondents may answer Household Sample Surveys in Developing and Transition Countries 174 question+D317s differently in the presence of an interviewer, by themselves, or by using a diary. • Interviewer: the effect that the interviewer has on the response to a question. The interviewer may introduce error in survey responses by not reading the items as intended, by probing inappropriately when handing an inadequate response, or by adding other information that may confuse or mislead the respondent. • Respondent: the effect of the fact that respondents, because of their different experiences, knowledge and attitudes, may interpret the meaning of questionnaire items differently.\"",
    "Also referred to as \"response error,\" measurement error occurs when the response received differs from the \"true\" value as a result of the respondent, the interviewer, the questionnaire, the mode of collection, the respondent's record-keeping system(s) or other similar factors."
  ],
  "references": [
    "BLS Glossary",
    "U.S. Census Bureau Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/economic-statistics/measurement-error/"
}