----- Forwarded message from Jake -----
Most of us feel that we know what "margin of error" means but to make
sure we're all on the same page, let's review.
"Margin of error" is a term out of survey polling that refers to the
confidence we have in the results of a given survey. In general, the
margin of error corresponds to the 95% confidence interval. For example,
----- End of forwarded message from Jake -----
I think this is a straw person. The 95% confidence interval measures
error due to random sampling. Has anyone seriously suggested that
this is the kind of error we had in Florida? All the problems I have
heard discussed seem to revolve around measurement errors, human error and
vagueness in the rules of the game or failures to play by the rules.
Error from ANY source can make the results "too close to call". Most
of the post-election debate seemed to revolve around each side wanting
to address the sources of error they felt played against them while
ignoring other sources of error.
_
| | Robert W. Hayden
| | Work: Department of Mathematics
/ | Plymouth State College MSC#29
| | Plymouth, New Hampshire 03264 USA
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/ | Home: 82 River Street (use this in the summer)
| ) Ashland, NH 03217
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