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Preferred term

special cause variation  

Definition

  • Special cause variation is variation in a process that is caused by specific factors, and occurs over and above normal process variation (also known as common cause variation). If measurements from a process are charted in a control chart, special cause variation manifests itself in one of several ways: one or more points above the upper control limit or below the lower control limit; runs of seven or more points all on the same side of the center line, indicating a process shift; or other patterns indicative of a nonrandom pattern (such as trends). [Source: Encyclopedia of Health Care Management; Special Cause Variation]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/special_cause_variation

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