Fill in the blanks. ________ affects the measurement in a constant way and represents stable factors that affect the observed score in the same way each time the measurement is made.

Systematic error affects the measurement in a constant way and represents stable factors that affect the observed score in the same way each time the measurement is made.

Systematic error, also known as bias, is a consistent, predictable error associated with the observation or measurement process. Unlike random errors, which can vary unpredictably, systematic errors are reproducible inaccuracies that are consistently in the same direction. Because of their consistency, these errors can lead to measurements that are either all too high or too low from the actual value. Systematic errors can be caused by several factors, such as:

1. Instrumental bias: This occurs when there is a problem with the measuring device that consistently affects the results. For instance, a scale that is not properly zeroed will always give a weight measurement that is off by the same amount.

2. Environmental conditions: Conditions such as temperature, humidity, or pressure can affect measurements in a consistent way. For example, an experiment conducted at higher temperatures might consistently produce higher results due to the influence of temperature on the experimental outcome.

3. Observation bias: The person making the measurement can introduce a systematic error due to misreading, estimating, or interpreting the measurement incorrectly, consistently in one direction.

4. Methodological bias: This occurs when the procedure or method used to obtain measurements inherently leads to incorrect results. For instance, if a stopwatch is consistently started late or stopped early, the timing measurements will be systematically off.

In scientific experiments and research, it is important to identify and minimize systematic errors to ensure the integrity and reliability of the results. This may involve calibrating instruments regularly, using controls in experiments, or including multiple observers and methods to cross-check results.