Overview of Step 6

STEP 6: Specify Limits on Decision Errors

Objective: The purpose of this step is to define the tolerable limits on the decision errors.

Activities

* Determine the possible range of the parameter of interest

* Define both types of decision errors and identify the potential consequences of each.

* Specify a range of possible parameter values where the consequences of decision errors are relatively minor (grey region).

* Assign probability values to points above and below the action level that reflect the acceptable possibility for the occurrence of decision errors.

* Check the limits on decision errors to ensure that they accurately reflect the relative consequences for each type of decision error.

Required Actions

* Chose a Statistical or a Non-statistical Design

* Determine the Range of the Parameter of Interest

* Identify the Decision Errors

* Choose the Null Hypothesis

* Specify the Grey Region

* Define the Tolerable Limits on Decision Errors

Outputs from This Step

* The acceptable decision error rates based on a consideration of the consequences of making an incorrect decision.