The results of paper tests are usually subject to appreciable variation, due not only to experimental error but also to variation in the raw materials and to the operation of many unknown or random factors in the manufacturing process.
BS 2987 provides notes on the application of statistics to paper testing. The purpose of these notes is to arouse the interest of persons engaged in paper testing in elementary statistical methods. The other is to provide an easy source of reference to the formulae required for the treatment of data, so as to satisfy the general reporting clauses included in most of the paper testing methods.
BS 2987 gives an introduction to statistical methods. BS 2987 discusses a practical problem from paper testing and the application of statistical tests to the example.
BS 2987 on application of statistics to paper testing is useful for:
The problems of sampling and the reliability of results obtained in paper testing are clearly cases for the application of statistical methods, and in recent years a number of papers have been published indicating the growing interest in statistical methods in the paper trade.
BS 2987 gives a brief outline of the subject, but with sufficient detail to enable the reader to carry out the simpler statistical calculations on his test data, such as those for ascertaining the precision of test means and the significance of differences in test means. For the more advanced techniques, such as that of analysis of variance, which can be of great utility for the comparison of instruments and for the analysis of causes of variation in test readings, reference is made to appropriate textbooks.
BS 2987 guidelines help you to secure greater uniformity in the presentation of test results and in the use of statistical terms and symbols.