The essential feature of the balance estimation is to equally estimate the amount of data needed to achieve a desired degree of accuracy when there are multiple sources of errors or noises. The basic idea is to partition the errors into different categories and consider each source separately. In this way, a balanced estimate can be reached so as to minimize the double-counting of errors.
The development of balance estimation algorithms has its origin in 1736, when the mathematician Thomas Simpson first proposed the concept of evaluating accuracy of measurements using error partioning and compensation. In the late 1950s, the impact of Simpsons pioneering work was appreciated by the National Bureau for Standards. Since then, balance estimation algorithms have been developed and improved by many researchers.
Balance estimation algorithms are widely used in statistical analysis, such as in the evaluation of a disputed election, in tests of the accuracy of a survey and in the analysis of cause-and-effect relationships. An example of application can be found in studies of the reliability of hospital staff in diagnosing illness, where estimates of error are needed to assess the quality of diagnosis performance.
To use a balance estimation algorithm, the numbers from which the data is obtained should first be allocated into different error sources. The sources can be determined through testing, such as assigning error sources to structured noise and random noise. The errors can then be separated into two models: a deterministic part and a random noise part. The deterministic part contains errors for which the expected value is known; and the random noise part contains errors for which the expected value is uncertain.
Once the error sources have been identified and allocated, a balance equation can be formed from the two models. This equation is then used to estimate the amount of data necessary to reach a desired level of accuracy. The next step is to select the appropriate balance algorithm depending on factors such as the number of error sources, their contributing effect, and the desired accuracy.
In order to assess the performance of a balance estimation algorithm, the accuracy of the results need to be evaluated. This is typically done through the evaluation of the correlation coefficient between the estimated data and the true data. Such correlation coefficients are used to identify conditions that a particular balance algorithm performs best under.
Overall, the balance estimation algorithm serves as a powerful tool for making reliable, accurate decisions. Although the algorithm is simple to understand and use, one should be aware of the potential for it to underestimate the amount of data necessary to reach the desired level of accuracy. The use of the algorithm needs to be coupled with other methods of estimation to allow for a more accurate result.