error variance

the element of variability in a score that is produced by extraneous factors, such as measurement imprecision, and is not attributable to the independent variable or other controlled experimental manipulations. Error variance usually indicates how much random fluctuation is expected within scores and often forms part of the denominator of test statistics, such as the F ratio in an analysis of variance. Also called residual error; residual variance; unexplained variance.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

December 22nd 2024

theobromine

n. a methylxanthine alkaloid that occurs naturally in the seeds of Theobroma cacao, the cocoa plant. Theobromine is structurally similar to caffeine in coffee and theophylline in tea but has less pharmacological potency than either of these methylxanthines.