Which term describes the closeness of a measurement to the standard or known value?

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

Answer: (D)

Closeness to the true or standard value is described by accuracy. It tells you how correct a measurement is relative to the actual quantity you’re trying to determine. For example, if the true mass is 50.0 g and your result is 50.0 g, that measurement is accurate. Precision, on the other hand, is about how repeatable or consistent your measurements are; you can have precise results that are consistently off from the true value if there’s a systematic error. Reliability refers to consistency across trials, and validity concerns whether the method actually measures the intended quantity. So, when the question asks about closeness to the standard value, the best term is accuracy.