Enduring Values

TLDR

Youden notes that laboratory conditions vary, leading to systematic differences between studies. The study investigates why inter‑investigator results differ beyond expected uncertainty and proposes designing experiments to bound systematic error. The authors designed experiments to estimate bounds on systematic error, replacing judgment based on feelings with observation. The paper shows that only uncertainty bounds derived from actual measurement endure, influencing physical measurement practice. Keywords: physical constants, inter‑laboratory comparisons, philosophy of design, variance components.

Abstract

Abstract Why do results obtained by different investigators characteristically disagree by more than would be expected by their estimates of uncertainty? Youden notes that everything gets changed in another laboratory, whereas the investigator can (or does) make only minor changes within his laboratory. The message of this paper—that only those bounds for uncertainty based on actual measurement will endure—is already beginning to have an impact on physical measurement. Designed experiments to estimate bounds to systematic error will replace fallible judgment based on feelings and not observation. Key Words: Physical constantsInter-Laboratory comparisonsPhilosophy of designVariance components