Maximum likelihood

Maximum de vraisemblance (Fr). Maximale Wahrscheinlichkeit (Ge). Metodo della massima verosimiglianza (It). 最尤法 (Ja). Máxima verosimilitud (Sp).

An approach to structure refinement in which the parameters of a structural model are modified to optimize the statistical probability of generating a set of observed intensities. The technique is often used in the refinement of structures of biological macromolecules, where the unfavourable parameter-to-observation ratio often leads to overfitted data and consequent systematic errors in least-squares minimization procedures.