Measurement error: Inter-and Intraobserver Variability. An Empiric Study |
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Authors: | A Pérez-Pérez A Alesan L Roca |
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Institution: | (1) Sec. Antropología, Dto. Biología animal, Universidad de Barcelona, Avda. Diagnoal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain |
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Abstract: | The intra- and inter-observer measurement error variability was studied using univariate and multivariate statistical tests.
Eleven skeletal variables of four individuals each in four Primate species were measured ten times by three different researchers,
using six different tools. An average measurement error of 0.52 mm. was obtained. Univariate statistics showed significant
differences among reseachers. A multivariate discriminant analysis could also discriminate them. The measurement error may
be either systematic or random, and depends not only on the researcher, but also on the tool used, the variable measured,
and on the magnitude of the variable. The technique of Measurement Replication is proposed in order to reduce the measurement
error, specially when compairing small samples or when trying to find small average differences between populations. The replication
technique also reduces the standard deviation of the population sample. |
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Keywords: | Measurement error Intra-observer error Inter-observer error Replicate measurements |
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