A reference to how closely the survey results from a sample can reproduce the results that would be obtained from the entire population (a complete census). The amount by which a sample statistic can vary from the true population parameter is due to error. Even if all the sample data are perfectly accurate, random (sampling) error affects statistical precision (measured by the standard error or standard deviation). The dispersion of ratios in the population and the sample size have a controlling influence over the precision of any statistical estimate. When the reliability of a statistical measure is being evaluated, narrower confidence intervals have greater precision. See precision.
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