What does accuracy refer to in measurement?

Accuracy in measurement refers to how closely a measured value aligns with the true or accepted value. When discussing the final result of measurement, accuracy specifically indicates the presence of systematic errors—these errors consistently affect the measurements in the same way, skewing the results either above or below the true value.

Understanding this concept is crucial because it highlights the importance of calibrating instruments and employing methods that minimize systematic errors, ensuring that measurements reflect true values as closely as possible. In contrast, random errors arise from unpredictable variations in the measurement process, while precision involves the degree to which repeated measurements yield the same result, emphasizing the reliability of the repeated measurements over their closeness to the true value. Therefore, defining accuracy in terms of systematic errors allows surveyors to effectively evaluate the reliability of their measurements in the field.