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standard error of the mean

(symbol: SEM; σM) a statistic that indicates how much the average value (mean) for a particular sample is likely to differ from the average value for the larger population from which it is drawn. It is equal to σ/√n, where σ is the standard deviation of the original distribution and n is the sample size.

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Psychology term of the day

January 31st 2025

automatic speech

automatic speech

1. speech that erupts involuntarily, or without conscious control. It sometimes occurs as a consequence of dementia, Tourette’s syndrome, or highly emotional states. Automatic speech is not to be confused with synthesized or synthetic speech.

2. speech that is uttered with little or no conscious consideration of the spoken material, such as the days of the week, numbers, the alphabet, and other well-learned material.