margin of error

The margin of error is a statistic that indicates the range within which the true value of a population parameter, like a percentage or average, is likely to fall based on survey results. It accounts for variability and sampling limitations, reflecting the uncertainty inherent in measuring a large population by surveying a smaller sample. For example, if a poll reports that 60% of people support a policy with a margin of error of 3%, it suggests that the true support could reasonably be between 57% and 63%. The smaller the margin of error, the more precise the estimate.