Errors resulting from mechanical malfunction of an instrument are referred to as?

The term that accurately describes errors arising from the malfunction of an instrument is instrument bias. This type of error is specifically related to the tools or devices being used in a study or experiment. When an instrument is not functioning properly, it can consistently produce inaccurate readings or measurements, leading to a systematic deviation from the true values.

Instrument bias can arise from various factors, including calibration issues, wear and tear, or design flaws within the instrument itself. This bias does not occur by chance; rather, it consistently skews the results in a particular direction, thus making the findings unreliable.

In contrast, observer bias refers to the influence of a researcher's expectations or beliefs on the conduct of a study or interpretation of data. Random error is associated with variability in measurements that occurs by chance, leading to fluctuations that do not consistently skew results in one direction. Systematic error, while similar in some respects to instrument bias, more broadly encompasses any consistent distortion in data, not exclusively stemming from instrumental malfunctions.

Overall, recognizing and addressing instrument bias is crucial in research to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the results.