A conceptual framework for concept definition in measurement: The case of 'sensitivity'

作者：Mencattini Arianna; Mari Luca^*

来源：Measurement, 2015, 72: 77-87.

DOI：10.1016/j.measurement.2015.04.030

• Terminology in metrology
• Measuring systems
• Instrumental uncertainty
• Sensitivity

The concept 'sensitivity' has multiple and sometimes incompatible usages and definitions, as they can be found in the scientific and technical literature. A strategy is proposed toward a conceptual framework in which sensitivity is qualitatively intended as a feature of a black box behavior and quantitatively is defined according to specific evaluation types (interval/ratio, ordinal, nominal) for both deterministic and stochastic behaviors. The proposed formal definitions characterize stochastic sensitivity as constituted of "effective'' and "confounding'' components, that can be simultaneously present and contribute to a desirable and unwanted increment of global sensitivity respectively. Two examples taken from the context of imaging systems and image-based measuring systems, in which sensitivity is computed in presence of non-negligible uncertainty sources, provide some hints on the usefulness of the proposed framework.

• 出版日期2015-8