Standard error (SE)
Definition
The standard deviation of the sampling distribution of an estimator. For the sample mean, SE equals the population standard deviation divided by the square root of n. A smaller SE means the estimate is more precise.
Related terms
- Bayesian credible interval
- An interval computed from the posterior distribution of a parameter, given a prior and the observed data. Unlike a confidence interval, a...
- Confidence interval (CI)
- A range computed from sample data using a procedure that, over many repetitions, would contain the true population parameter a stated percentage...
- Coverage probability
- The true long-run proportion of intervals, from repeated sampling, that contain the parameter. If a procedure has 95% nominal coverage and its...
- Critical value
- The value from a reference distribution (z or t) that cuts off the desired tail probability. For a 95% two-sided interval using...
- Margin of error
- Half the width of a symmetric confidence interval, equal to the critical value multiplied by the standard error. Commonly reported in survey...
Explained in
- Confidence Intervals and What a Sample Can SupportThe standard deviation of the sampling distribution of an estimator. For the sample mean, SE equals the population standard deviation divided by the square roo...