Round-Off Error, Blind Faith, and the Powers that Be: A Caution on Numerical Error in Coefficients for Polynomial Curves Fit to Psychophysical Data.

Samar, Vincent J.; DeFilippo, Carol Lee

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Peer reviewed

ERIC Number: EJ569603

Record Type: Journal

Publication Date: 1998

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ISSN: ISSN-1090-655X

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Round-Off Error, Blind Faith, and the Powers that Be: A Caution on Numerical Error in Coefficients for Polynomial Curves Fit to Psychophysical Data.

Samar, Vincent J.; DeFilippo, Carol Lee

Journal of Outcome Measurement, v2 n2 p159-67 1998

Graphing and statistics software permitting users to fit polynomial curves to scatter plots of data may display the equation generating the curve with numerical coefficients that have been rounded off to a few decimal places. The round-off error can produce anomalous findings due to systematic and extreme distortions of the fitted curve. (Author/MAK)

Descriptors: Computer Software, Goodness of Fit, Mathematical Models, Statistical Bias

Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research

Education Level: N/A

Audience: N/A

Language: English

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Author Affiliations: N/A