Theory — Introduction and Learning Goals#

Short summary This chapter covers measurement theory: uncertainty concepts, best practices, measurement-system analysis, and worked Monte Carlo examples.

Learning objectives

  • Understand types of measurement uncertainty and how to report them.

  • Distinguish repeatability vs reproducibility, bias, and systematic errors.

  • Apply basic uncertainty propagation (analytical and Monte Carlo).

  • Recognize good-practice recommendations for lab notebooks and reporting.

Key concepts (brief)

  • GUM-style uncertainty vs Type A/B estimates.

  • Propagation of uncertainty for slopes and model parameters.

  • Role of simulations (Monte Carlo) to validate analytical propagation.

Recommended notebooks to run

  • uncertainty_example.ipynb

  • uncertainty_of_a_slope.ipynb

  • uncertainty_propagation_monte_carlo_gum.ipynb

  • teaching_measurement_uncertainty.ipynb

  • best_practice_summary.ipynb

Suggested exercises

  • Compute and compare analytical and Monte Carlo propagation on a simple function.

  • Prepare a short lab report following the best-practice notebook checklist.

Prerequisites Basic probability, calculus, and comfort with Python arrays.

Checklist for the 8-step uncertainty analysis process#

See checklist.md for a detailed 9-step checklist to guide uncertainty analyses.

Pages in this chapter#

Ordered reading (suggested)#

Follow this sequence when teaching or self-studying. The order moves from foundational lab practice and best-practice guidance, to measurement-system analysis and elementary worked examples, then to uncertainty concepts and quantitative propagation methods (analytical & Monte Carlo), and finishes with advanced case studies and community presentations.

  1. laboratory_notebook.ipynb — practical lab notebook practices and data recording.

  2. best_practice_summary.ipynb — concise recommendations for reporting and reproducibility.

  3. teaching_measurement_uncertainty.ipynb — pedagogical overview of uncertainty.

  4. standartization.ipynb — standards and common terminology.

  5. general_measurement_system_analysis.ipynb — system-level thinking and error sources.

  6. simple_example.ipynb — a short worked example linking practice and theory.

  7. example_from_best_practice.ipynb — illustrated application of best practices.

  8. uncertainty_example.ipynb — basic uncertainty calculations and interpretation.

  9. uncertainty_of_a_slope.ipynb — propagation for regression-derived quantities.

  10. uncertainty_propagation_monte_carlo_gum.ipynb — Monte Carlo propagation following GUM ideas.

  11. simulations_for_uncertainty.ipynb — simulation-driven exploration of uncertainty.

  12. uncertainty_analysis_NASA.ipynb — applied example from NASA guidance.

  13. iaea_uncertainty_presentation.ipynb — community presentation and advanced perspectives.

Rationale: this ordering lets students first acquire good lab habits and reporting skills, then build a conceptual toolbox for system analysis, then learn measurement uncertainty in increasing rigor (examples → slope propagation → Monte Carlo → case studies). Use the checklists added to notebooks to guide in-class or lab activities.