A distant reading may be a transcription error, a real event or evidence that the proposed model is unsuitable.
An outlier label is not a cause
An unusual observation needs investigation. If an entry is demonstrably erroneous, a traceable correction may be appropriate. If its cause remains unknown, deleting it merely because it changes the result removes information. Formal outlier procedures also depend on their distributional assumptions and on whether one or several unusual values are being assessed.
A hypothetical decimal-point discrepancy
A spreadsheet contains 1000 where the original identified instrument record shows 100.0. Correcting the transcription with its source reference is different from discarding a genuine instrument reading of 103.0 because most readings lie near 100.0. The second item needs an investigation of measurement and process context.
Keep the unedited source and a correction or exclusion log. Mark the item, timestamp and reason. This illustration supplies no HM measurement range or rule for how far a reading must be from its neighbours.
Prepare a defensible supplier discussion
Send the complete table, original source for the flagged observation, measurement method and relevant event record. State whether the value is verified as wrong, known to reflect a separate condition or still unexplained. Ask which analysis approach is suitable for the actual question.
Where an exclusion is proposed, retain its justification and the effect on the conclusion. A comparison with and without a flagged value can expose sensitivity, but does not itself authorize removal. Agree the handling rule with the trial owner before presenting a cleaned summary as evidence of the original run.
Trial discussion worksheet
This blank worksheet is for your own project. It contains no H M machine trial result.
| Review question | Reference or observation to retain |
|---|---|
| Is the value verified as wrong? | Original source and identity |
| What context exists? | Measurement and event record |
| How was it handled? | Correction or exclusion rationale |
Customer Questions
Does an outlier test identify a physical cause?
No. It evaluates an observation against a stated statistical model.
May a value be removed to improve Cpk?
Improvement of a summary is not an exclusion rationale.
What should be kept after a correction?
The original record, corrected value and traceable reason.
Primary References
These references support the technical principles discussed in this guide. The worked examples and review questions are educational.
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