Personal Equation (Noun)
Meaning
Variability attributable to individual differences.
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- Researchers accounted for the personal equation in data collection to minimize the impact of individual variability on the study's findings.
- The term personal equation originally described the unique error an astronomer might bring to timing a celestial event using a stopwatch.
- A personal equation for time estimation would help account for variation among subjects, making results more accurate and applicable across the group.
- To adjust for differences in responsiveness among participants, researchers calculated a personal equation for reaction times in the psychology experiment.
- Astronomers now use automated systems to eliminate the personal equation and its associated errors in observing celestial events.