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lay analysis

historically, psychoanalytic therapy performed by a person who had been trained in psychoanalytic theory and practice but was not a physician (i.e., a layperson). Beginning in the 1950s, psychoanalytic training institutions began training licensed mental health practitioners besides psychiatrists, including psychologists and social workers, thus rendering the term obsolete.

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Psychology term of the day

November 22nd 2024

constant error

constant error

a systematic error in some particular direction. Constant error is computed as the average positive or negative difference between the observed and actual values along a dimension of interest. For example, if a weight of 1 kg is judged on average to be 1.5 kg, and a weight of 2 kg is judged to be 2.5 kg, the constant error is 500 g. See also absolute error; random error.