confidence coefficient

confidence coefficient

Etymology: L, confidere, to rely on; L, coefficiens

the probability that a confidence interval will contain the true value of the population parameter. For example, if the confidence coefficient is .95, 95% of the confidence intervals so calculated for each of a large number of random samples would contain the parameter.

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coefficient [ko″ĕ-fish´ent]

1. an expression of the change or effect produced by the variation in certain variables, or of the ratio between two different quantities.

2. in chemistry, a number or figure put before a chemical formula to indicate how many times the formula is to be multiplied.

absorption coefficient absorptivity.

1. linear absorption coefficient.

2. mass absorption coefficient.

Bunsen coefficient the number of milliliters of gas dissolved in a milliliter of liquid at atmospheric pressure (760 mm Hg) and a specified temperature. Symbol, α.

confidence coefficient the probability that a confidence interval will contain the true value of the population parameter. For example, if the confidence coefficient is 0.95, 95 per cent of the confidence intervals so calculated for a large number of random samples would contain the parameter.

correlation coefficient a numerical value that indicates the degree and direction of relationship between two variables; the coefficients range in value from +1.00 (perfect positive relationship) to 0.00 (no relationship) to −1.00 (perfect negative or inverse relationship).

diffusion coefficient see diffusion coefficient.

coefficient of digestibility the proportion of a food that is digested compared to what is absorbed, expressed as a percentage.

dilution coefficient a number that expresses the effectiveness of a disinfectant for a given organism. It is calculated by the equation tcⁿ = k, where t is the time required for killing all organisms, c is the concentration of disinfectant, n is the dilution coefficient, and k is a constant. A low coefficient indicates the disinfectant is effective at a low concentration.

linear absorption coefficient the fraction of a beam of radiation absorbed per unit thickness of absorber.

mass absorption coefficient the linear absorption coefficient divided by the density of the absorber.

phenol coefficient see phenol coefficient.

sedimentation coefficient the velocity at which a particle sediments in a centrifuge divided by the applied centrifugal field, the result having units of time (velocity divided by acceleration), usually expressed in Svedberg units (S), which equal 10⁻¹³ second. Sedimentation coefficients are used to characterize the size of macromolecules; they increase with increasing mass and density and are higher for globular than for fibrous particles.