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Uncertainty in repeated measurement of a small non-negative quantity: explanation and discussion of Bayesian methodology

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Abstract

This article considers the problem of uncertainty evaluation when there are repeated measurements of a small quantity known to be non-negative. A solution to this problem has recently been put forward by the Analytical Methods Committee of the Royal Society of Chemistry (Accred Qual Assur 13:29–32). The Bayesian statistical basis of this solution is explained and discussed. It is shown that the performance of this procedure can be poor in an important subset of measurement situations.

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  1. Industrial Research Ltd, PO Box 31-310, Lower Hutt, 5040, New Zealand

    Robin Willink

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Correspondence to Robin Willink.

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Papers published in this section do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editors, the Editorial Board and the Publisher.

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Willink, R. Uncertainty in repeated measurement of a small non-negative quantity: explanation and discussion of Bayesian methodology. Accred Qual Assur 15, 181–188 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-009-0595-7

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