Generalized deviation of posets and modular lattices Original Research Article

The existence and relationship of the Γ-deviation and dual Γ-deviation of a poset is investigated, where Γ is a nonempty set of linear order types. If Γ is a finite set of linear order types, then bounds are given for the Γ-deviation of a poset (when it exists). If Γ is an arbitrary set of indecomposable order types and L is a modular lattice, then the Γ-deviation behaves in a classical manner on subintervals of L. Examples are given to illustrate the results.