margin of error
Quick Summary
In statistics, the margin of error quantifies the uncertainty in a sample estimate compared to the true population parameter. It represents the range within which the true value is likely to fall, based on a specific confidence level.1
Sampling error, which the margin of error helps to measure, arises because a sample is only a portion of the entire population and may not perfectly represent it. Factors influencing the margin of error include the sample size (larger samples generally lead to smaller margins of error) and the variability within the population. It's important to distinguish sampling error from non-sampling error, which stems from methodological issues or biases in the study.1
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