Which term describes the closeness of two or more measurements to each other?

• A. Accuracy
• B. Precision
• C. Validity
• D. Reliability

Answer: (B)

Closeness of multiple measurements to one another is precision. Precision describes how tightly repeated measurements cluster together under the same conditions, revealing the repeatability and consistency of the measurement process. It doesn’t require hitting the true value, so you can be highly precise but biased if your measurements are consistently off. Accuracy, in contrast, is about how close those measurements are to the true value. Validity asks whether you’re measuring what you intend to measure, and reliability refers to consistency across time or different observers, which relates to precision but emphasizes dependability of the method as a whole.