The Berkson error model is a description of
random error
Observational error (or measurement error) is the difference between a measured value of a quantity and its true value.Dodge, Y. (2003) ''The Oxford Dictionary of Statistical Terms'', OUP. In statistics, an error is not necessarily a "mistake" ...
(or misclassification) in
measurement
Measurement is the quantification of attributes of an object or event, which can be used to compare with other objects or events.
In other words, measurement is a process of determining how large or small a physical quantity is as compared ...
. Unlike
classical error
In statistics and optimization, errors and residuals are two closely related and easily confused measures of the deviation of an observed value of an element of a statistical sample from its "true value" (not necessarily observable). The error ...
, Berkson error causes little or no bias in the measurement. It was proposed by
Joseph Berkson
Joseph Berkson (14 May 1899 – 12 September 1982) was trained as a physicist (BSc 1920 College of City of New York, M.A., 1922, Columbia), physician (M.D., 1927, Johns Hopkins), and statistician (Dr.Sc., 1928, Johns Hopkins).O'Fallon WM (1998). " ...
in an article entitled “Are there two regressions?,”
published in 1950.
An example of Berkson error arises in
exposure assessment
Exposure assessment is a branch of environmental science and occupational hygiene that focuses on the processes that take place at the interface between the environment containing the contaminant of interest and the organism being considered. ...
in epidemiological studies. Berkson error may predominate over
classical error
In statistics and optimization, errors and residuals are two closely related and easily confused measures of the deviation of an observed value of an element of a statistical sample from its "true value" (not necessarily observable). The error ...
in cases where exposure data are highly aggregated. While this kind of error reduces the
power
Power most often refers to:
* Power (physics), meaning "rate of doing work"
** Engine power, the power put out by an engine
** Electric power
* Power (social and political), the ability to influence people or events
** Abusive power
Power may a ...
of a study, risk estimates themselves are not themselves attenuated (as would be the case where
random error
Observational error (or measurement error) is the difference between a measured value of a quantity and its true value.Dodge, Y. (2003) ''The Oxford Dictionary of Statistical Terms'', OUP. In statistics, an error is not necessarily a "mistake" ...
predominates).
References
Further reading
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*
Accuracy and precision
Statistical deviation and dispersion
Errors and residuals
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