| |
Welcome to NUSAP net Glossary
[ A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S ]
[ T |
U |
V |
W |
X |
Y |
Z |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
0 ]
| [ 1 ] |
| |
| Terms |
Definitions |
| Unreliability |
One of the three sorts of uncertainty distinguished by Funtowicz and Ravetz (1990):
Inexactness, unreliability and border with ignorance.
Unreliability relates to the level of confidence to be placed in a quantitative statement,
usually represented by the confidence level (at say 95 % or 99 %). In practice, such judgements
are quite diverse; thus estimates of safety and reliability may be given as "conservative
by a factor of n". In risk analyses and futures scenarios estimates are qualified as "optimistic"
or "pessimistic". In laboratory practice, the systematic error in physical quantities, as distinct
from the random error or spread, is estimated on an historic basis. Thus it provides a kind of
assessment (the A in the NUSAP acronym) to act as a qualifier on the number together with its spread (the S in the NUSAP acronym). |
| Unstructured problems |
Hoppe and Hisschemöller have defined unstructured problems as
those for which there is a low level of agreement on the
relevant knowledge base and a low level on consent on norms
and values related to the problem. Compare with structured
problems. Unstructured problems have similar characteristics
to post-normal science problems. |
| |
| [ 1 ] |
|
|
|
