| TP | temperature and pressure; temperature probe; temporal peak; temporoparietal; tension pneumothorax; t... |
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| TPN | thalamic projection neuron; total parenteral nutrition; transition protein; triphosphopyridine nucle... |
| 'Greek letter alpha' | angular acceleration; first [carbon atom next to the carbon atom bearing the active group in organic... |
| beta [Greek letter beta] | an anomer of a carbohydrate; buffer capacity; carbon separated from a carboxyl by one other carbon i... |
| CPF | clot-promoting factor; complication probability factor; contraction peak force; current patient file... |
| prior probability | The best rational assessment of the probability of an outcome on the basis of established knowledge before the present information is included. For instance, the prior probability of the daughter of a carrier of haemophilia being herself haemophiliac is 1/2. But if she already has one child, an affected son, the posterior probability that she is a carrier is unity, whereas if she has one child, a normal one, the posterior probability that she is a carrier is 1/3. See: Bayes theorem. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| probability | Origin: L. Probabilitas: cf. F. Probabilite. 1. The quality or state of being probable; appearance of reality or truth; reasonable ground of presumption; likelihood. "Probability is the appearance of the agreement or disagreement of two ideas, by the intervention of proofs whose connection is not constant, but appears for the most part to be so." (Locke) 2. That which is or appears probable; anything that has the appearance of reality or truth. "The whole life of man is a perpetual comparison of evidence and balancing of probabilities." (Buckminster) "We do not call for evidence till antecedent probabilities fail." (J. H. Newman) 3. <mathematics> Likelihood of the occurrence of any event in the doctrine of chances, or the ratio of the number of favorable chances to the whole number of chances, favorable and unfavorable. See 1st Chance. Synonym: Likeliness, credibleness, likelihood, chance. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| probability curve | A graph of the gaussian (normal) distribution representing relative probabilities. (05 Mar 2000) |
| probability learning | Usually refers to the use of mathematical models in the prediction of learning to perform tasks based on the theory of probability applied to responses; it may also refer to the frequency of occurrence of the responses observed in the particular study. (12 Dec 1998) |
| probability sample | Each individual in the sample has a known, generally equal, chance of being selected. (05 Mar 2000) |
| probability theory | The branch of mathematics dealing with the purely logical properties of probability. Its theorems underlie most statistical methods. (12 Dec 1998) |
| subjective probability | A fair statement of the odds that a rational, well-informed person would give or take for the outcome of an experiment. The experiment may be unique and not rationally understood (precluding both theoretically sound predication and empirical experience). The formulation is applicable to experiments that have been carried out but the outcome unknown. (For instance, a certain statement about the sex of the foetus early in pregnancy is established but perhaps not accessible until amniocentesis can be done.) Unlike personal probably, the subjective probability should be the same from all competent counselors in possession of the same evidence. (05 Mar 2000) |
| objective probability | A probability of an outcome based either on unassailable theory or extensive empirical experience of exactly the same combination of circumstances; the notion also implies that the realization concerned has not been effected and therefore even in principle not known with certainty. (05 Mar 2000) |
| joint probability | The probability that two or more outcomes are realised jointly; the probability that the child is both male and affected is 1/4. (05 Mar 2000) |