27
This is an example of the terminological care we must take here: while “process”
and “procedure” are sometimes used as synonyms, we follow the VIM and distinguish the transformation that occurs in the measurement from the description of the
transformation. That is, a measurement is a process that is performed according to a
specification; a measurement procedure is a specification that is implemented in a
process.
12
For a number of possible reasons, the process may not fully implement what the
procedure specifies. This justifies not only maintaining a clear distinction between
the procedure and the process, but also adopting a systemic view and interpreting
both of them as components of a system that we call a measurement system,
designed, set up, and operated to solve a measurement problem, as depicted in
Fig. 2.4.
In summary, following the VIM, while measurement is an empirical process, the
procedure that specifies it is an informational entity. This twofoldness—measurement systems including both empirical transformations and their specifications—is
a characterizing feature of measurement, which is then a designed, not a natural and
spontaneous, process.
Of course, this condition is still not sufficient: there are plenty of designed, inputoutput empirical processes that are not measurements. An example is a manufacturing process, in which raw materials are transformed into final products according to
production plans. Clearly a manufacturing process is not measurement. However,
we propose that all examples of measurements can be uncontroversially characterized as designed processes.
In the case of the measurement of temperature, the empirical process is the interaction of the thermometer with the body of the individual under consideration; this
12 The definitions of—“process of experimentally obtaining one or more quantity
values that can reasonably be attributed to a quantity” (JCGM, 2012: 2.1)—and
calculation to obtain a measurement result” (JCGM, 2012: 2.6)—given by the VIM are very clear
in maintaining this distinction.
Fig. 2.3 The abstract structure of measurement (second version)
Fig. 2.4 Measurement systems, including the process of measuring and the procedure that specifies it
2.2 The abstract structure of measurement
This is an example of the terminological care we must take here: while “process”
and “procedure” are sometimes used as synonyms, we follow the VIM and distinguish the transformation that occurs in the measurement from the description of the
transformation. That is, a measurement is a process that is performed according to a
specification; a measurement procedure is a specification that is implemented in a
process.
12
For a number of possible reasons, the process may not fully implement what the
procedure specifies. This justifies not only maintaining a clear distinction between
the procedure and the process, but also adopting a systemic view and interpreting
both of them as components of a system that we call a measurement system,
designed, set up, and operated to solve a measurement problem, as depicted in
Fig. 2.4.
In summary, following the VIM, while measurement is an empirical process, the
procedure that specifies it is an informational entity. This twofoldness—measurement systems including both empirical transformations and their specifications—is
a characterizing feature of measurement, which is then a designed, not a natural and
spontaneous, process.
Of course, this condition is still not sufficient: there are plenty of designed, inputoutput empirical processes that are not measurements. An example is a manufacturing process, in which raw materials are transformed into final products according to
production plans. Clearly a manufacturing process is not measurement. However,
we propose that all examples of measurements can be uncontroversially characterized as designed processes.
In the case of the measurement of temperature, the empirical process is the interaction of the thermometer with the body of the individual under consideration; this
12 The definitions of
values that can reasonably be attributed to a quantity” (JCGM, 2012: 2.1)—and
calculation to obtain a measurement result” (JCGM, 2012: 2.6)—given by the VIM are very clear
in maintaining this distinction.
Fig. 2.3 The abstract structure of measurement (second version)
Fig. 2.4 Measurement systems, including the process of measuring and the procedure that specifies it
2.2 The abstract structure of measurement