Term: Standard Error

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2009-08-27

Definition:

In statistics, the standard error of a measurement, value or quantity is the standard deviation of the process by which it was generated, after adjusting for sample size. In other words the standard error is the standard deviation of the sample mean. The standard error of a sample from a population is the standard deviation of the sampling distribution and may be estimated by the formula:

where σ is the standard deviation of the population distribution and n is the size (number of items) in the sample.

It is primarily used to determine the confidence interval of a parameter, such as a mean or rate, as it defines the range of expected values for the measurement.

References

Lix L, Yogendran M, Burchill C, Metge C, McKeen N, Moore D, Bond R. Defining and Validating Chronic Diseases: An Administrative Data Approach. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2006. [Report] [Summary] (View)
Metge C, Chateau D, Prior H, Soodeen R, De Coster C, Barre L. Composite Measures/Indices of Health and Health System Performance. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2009. [Report] [Summary] (View)

Term used in

Finlayson G, Ekuma O, Yogendran M, Burland E, Forget E. The Additional Cost of Chronic Disease in Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2010. [Report] [Summary] (View)
Martens P, Fransoo R, The Need to Know Team, Burland E, Prior H, Burchill C, Romphf L, Chateau D, Bailly A, Ouelette C. What Works? A First Look at Evaluating Manitoba's Regional Health Programs and Policies at the Population Level. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2008. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)