Quantifying Probabilistic Expressions
1990
In this article, authors synthesized 20 different studies to provide numerical averages of opinions on quantitative meanings of 52 qualitative probabilistic expressions. These were obtained from people with differing occupations, such as students, physicians, other medical workers, and science writers.
The stem probability with modifiers gives a substantial range 6% to 91% and the stem chance might do as well if tried with very. The stems frequent, probable, likely, and often with modifiers produce roughly equivalent sets of means, but do not cover as wide a range as probability. Extreme values such as always and certain fall at 98% and 95%, respectively, and impossible and never at 1%.
Adapted from publication abstract.
Quantifying Probabilistic Expressions
Source:
Mosteller F, Youtz C. Quantifying Probabilistic Expressions. Statistical Science 1990; 5 (1): 2-12. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2245869