A test method is a definitive procedure that produces a test result. (ASTM definition) ASTM International is an international voluntary standards organization that develops and produces technical standards for materials, products, systems and services. ...

The test result can be qualititive (yes/no), categorical, or quantititive (a measured value). It can be a personal observation or the output of a precision instrument.

Usually the test result is the dependent variable, the measured response based on the particular conditions of the test or the level of the independent variable. Some tests, however, involve changing the independent variable to determine the level at which a certain response occurs: in this case, the test result is the independent variable. In experimental design, a dependent variable (also known as response variable, responding variable or regressand) is a factor whose values in different treatment conditions are compared. ... In an experimental design, the independent variable (argument of a function, also called a predictor variable) is the variable that is manipulated or selected by the experimenter to determine its relationship to an observed phenomenon (the dependent variable). ...

Importance of test methods

In engineering, science, manufacturing, and business, it is vital for all interested people to understand and agree upon methods of obtaining data and making measurements. This is to fully document experiments and measurements and to provide needed definition to specifications and contracts. Engineering is the design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ... Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... Manufacturing , a branch of industry, is the application of tools and a processing medium to the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale. ... Wall Street, Manhattan is the location of the New York Stock Exchange and is often used as a symbol for the world of business. ... Various meters Measurement is the estimation of a physical quantity such as length, temperature, or time. ... From Latin ex- + -periri (akin to periculum attempt). ... Various meters Measurement is the estimation of a physical quantity such as length, temperature, or time. ... In engineering and manufacturing, the term specification has the following meanings: Technical requirement A specification is a set of requirements. ... A contract is a legally binding exchange of promises or agreement between parties that the law will enforce. ...

Content of a test method

The test method might include:

• Descriptive title and scope of the test method
• Date of last effective revision and revision designation
• Person, office, or agency responsible for questions on the test method, updates, and deviations.
• The significance or importance of the test method and its intended use.
• Terminology and definitions to clarify the meanings of the test method
• A listing of the types of apparatus (and the specific device) required to conduct the test
• Safety precautions
• Environmental concerns and considerations
• Sampling procedures. How are samples to be obtained. Number of samples.
• Conditioning: temperature, humidity, etc, and Tolerance (engineering)
• Preparation of samples for the test
• Detailed procedure for conducting the test
• Calculations and analysis of data
• Interpretation of data and test method output
• Report: format, content, data, etc
• Accuracy, precision, bias, repeatability, reproducibility, and uncertainty of test results

Warning signs, such as this one, can improve safety awareness. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Tolerance in Final Fantasy is an allowance, given as a permissible range, in the nominal dimension or value specification of a manufactured object. ... In the fields of science, engineering, industry and statistics, accuracy is the degree of conformity of a measured or calculated quantity to its actual (true) value. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

See also

• Data analysis
• Design of experiments
• experiment
• Metrication
• Metrology
• observational error
• Performance testing
• Sampling (statistics)
• Specification
• Tolerance (engineering)

Data analysis is the act of transforming data with the aim of extracting useful information and facilitating conclusions. ... The first statistician to consider a methodology for the design of experiments was Sir Ronald A. Fisher. ... In the scientific method, an experiment (Latin: ex-+-periri, of (or from) trying), is a set of actions of going to the bathroom. ... Metrication or metrification refers to the introduction of the SI metric system as the international standard for physical measurements—a long-term series of independent and systematic conversions from the various separate local systems of weights and measures. ... Metrology (from Greek metron (measure), and -logy) is the science of measurement. ... Observational error is the difference between a measured value of quantity and its true value. ... In software engineering, performance testing is testing that is performed to determine how fast some aspect of a system performs under a particular workload. ... Sampling is that part of statistical practice concerned with the selection of individual observations intended to yield some knowledge about a population of concern, especially for the purposes of statistical inference. ... In engineering and manufacturing, the term specification has the following meanings: Technical requirement A specification is a set of requirements. ... Tolerance in Final Fantasy is an allowance, given as a permissible range, in the nominal dimension or value specification of a manufactured object. ...

References

• Pyzdek, T, "Quality Engineering Handbook", 2003, ISBN 0824746147
• Godfrey, A. B., "Juran's Quality Handbook", 1999, ISBN 007034003
• Kimothi, S. K., "The Uncertainty of Measurements: Physical and Chemical Metrology: Impact and Analysis", 2002, ISBN 0873895355
• ASTM D4356 Standard Practice for Establishing Consistent Test Method Tolerances
• ASTM E691 Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
• ASTM E1169 Standard Guide for Conducting Ruggedness Tests
• ASTM E1488 Standard Guide for Statistical Procedures to Use in Developing and Applying Test Methods