trial and error

(noun)

The process of finding a solution to a problem by trying many possible solutions and learning from mistakes until a way is found.

Related Terms

  • behavior modification
  • Law of Effect

Examples of trial and error in the following topics:

  • Data Snooping: Testing Hypotheses Once You've Seen the Data

    • Testing a hypothesis suggested by the data can very easily result in false positives (type I errors) .
    • If one looks long enough and in enough different places, eventually data can be found to support any hypothesis.
    • It is a particular problem in statistical modelling, where many different models are rejected by trial and error before publishing a result.
    • The error is particularly prevalent in data mining and machine learning.
    • This table depicts the difference types of errors in significance testing.
  • The Trial Balance

    • The trial balance tests the equality of a company's debits and credits.
    • This error must be found before a profit and loss statement and balance sheet can be produced.
    • The trial balance is a part of the double-entry bookkeeping system and uses the classic 'T' account format for presenting values.
    • Making a transposition or slide error in the accounts or the journal.
    • When the error is found, a correcting entry must be made.
  • Accuracy, Precision, and Error

    • Errors can be classified as human error or technical error.
    • Technical error can be broken down into two categories: random error and systematic error.
    • If you have actually done this in the laboratory, you will know it is highly unlikely that the second trial will yield the same result as the first.
    • In fact, if you run a number of replicate (that is, identical in every way) trials, you will probably obtain scattered results.
    • Describe the difference between accuracy and precision, and identify sources of error in measurement
  • Chance Error and Bias

    • Chance error and bias are two different forms of error associated with sampling.
    • In sampling, there are two main types of error: systematic errors (or biases) and random errors (or chance errors).
    • Of course, this is not possible, and the error that is associated with the unpredictable variation in the sample is called random, or chance, error.
    • Random error always exists.
    • Pre-screening of trial participants, or advertising for volunteers within particular groups.
  • U.S. Court of Appeals

    • The U.S. courts of appeals review the decisions made in trial courts and often serve as the final arbiter in federal cases.
    • These twelve circuit courts decide whether or not the district courts within their geographic jurisdiction have made an error in conducting a trial .
    • Court of Federal Claims, the Patent and Trademark Office, and others.
    • The appellant presents a document called a brief, which lays out the legal arguments to persuade the judge that the trial court made an error.
    • Meanwhile, the party defending against the appeal, known as the apellee, also presents a brief presenting reasons the trial court decision is correct or why an error made by the trial court is not significant enough to reverse the decision.
  • The Post-Closing Trial Balance

    • A post-closing trial balance is a trial balance taken after the closing entries have been posted.
    • As with the trial balance, the purpose of the post-closing trial balance is to ensure that debits equal credits.
    • While each accounting period has a beginning and an end, the periods do use information from the previous period.
    • The preparation of a post-closing trial balance serves as a check on the accuracy of the closing process and ensures that the books are in balance at the start of the new accounting period.
    • The post-closing trial balance differs from the adjusted trial balance in only two important respects: It excludes all temporary accounts since they have been closed, and it updates the retained earnings account to its proper ending balance.
  • Encouraging Product Trials

    • Promotional tactics such as free samples and discounts are often used to encourage consumers to participate in product trials.
    • Product trials include free samples, price reductions, or other purchase incentives designed to encourage consumer use during and after the trial.
    • Perks such as free shipping and handling and future coupons can all drive consumers toward making a purchase after the end of the free trial period.
    • Adjusting these three variables – price, product, and place (distribution or location) – enhances both the trial offer and the appeal of the final product or service.
    • Promote the product trial online via websites, social media, and paid and non-paid search marketing programs.
  • Hypotheses about the means of two groups

    • Note how the file names (selected by browsing, or typed) and the columns within the file are entered in the dialog.
    • For this test, we have selected the default of 10,000 trials to create the permutation-based sampling distribution of the difference between the two means.
    • For each of these trials, the scores on normed Freeman degree centralization are randomly permuted (that is, randomly assigned to government or non-government, proportional to the number of each type. ) The standard deviation of this distribution based on random trials becomes the estimated standard error for our test.
    • UCINET does not print the estimated standard error, or the values of the conventional two-group t-test.
    • Test for difference in mean normed degree centrality of Knoke government and non-government organizations
  • Example Calculations

    • The probability of being correct on 11 or more trials is 0.105 and the probability of being correct on 12 or more trials is 0.038.
    • Bond is correct on 12 or more trials and will not be rejected otherwise.
    • The probability of being correct on 12 or more trials is 0.63.
    • Bond's true ability to be correct on 0.75 of the trials, the probability he will be correct on 12 or more trials is 0.63.
    • Recall that the standard error of the mean (σM) is
  • Overview of Statement Changes and Errors

    • Despite best efforts, occasionally an error is made on the financial statement and must be corrected.
    • Reflect the cumulative effect of the error on periods prior to those presented in the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities as of the beginning of the first period presented; and
    • If the error has not counterbalanced, an entry is necessary to adjusted beginning retained earnings and correct the current period.
    • If an error is found on a previous year's financial statement, a correction must be made and the financials reissued.
    • Explain why a previously issued financial statement would have an error and how to correct it
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