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The Improbability Scale

2005/03/31 by David J. Ritchie, Ritchie, David J.
Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Physics and Society (physics.soc-ph) #Popular Physics (physics.pop-ph) #physics.pop-ph #physics.soc-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.physics/0503229

5 pages, 0 figures. Reference: arXiv:astro-ph/0211361 TeX: LaTeX via pcTeX. Reason: spell lightning correctly

arxiv created 2005/03/31 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01

Abstract

The Improbability Scale (IS) is proposed as a way of communicating to the general public the improbability (and by implication, the probability) of events predicted as the result of scientific research. Through the use of the Improbability Scale, the public will be able to evaluate more easily the relative risks of predicted events and draw proper conclusions when asked to support governmental and public policy decisions arising from that research.

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