What measurement describes how close a measurement is to the true value?

The term that describes how close a measurement is to the true value is accuracy. Accuracy refers to the degree of closeness of a measured value to a standard or known true value. In scientific and technical fields, understanding accuracy is essential because it directly affects the validity of findings and conclusions drawn from gathered data.

For example, if a thermometer consistently reads 2 degrees higher than the actual temperature, it lacks accuracy. Measurements that are accurate will provide a high degree of confidence in the information being conveyed.

The other terms mentioned, while related to measurement in various contexts, do not define the concept of closeness to the true value. Precision refers to the consistency of repeated measurements, reliability pertains to the consistency of a measurement tool over time, and validity indicates whether a test measures what it claims to measure. However, none of these specifically address the concept of being close to the true value like accuracy does.