Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Coefficient of Variation as an Index of Measurement Reliability

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Methods of Clinical Epidemiology

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Epidemiology and Public Health ((SSEH))

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the use of the coefficient of variation (CV) as an index of reliability or variability in the health sciences (medical and biological sciences) for the purpose of clinical research and clinical practice in the context of diagnostic tests, human performance tests, and biochemical laboratory assays. Before examining the use of the CV as an index of measurement reliability or variability, there is a need to define basic terms in measurement theory such as reliability, validity, and measurement error. A discussion and examples of use of the CV as a measure of reliability or variability are also provided.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Bibliography

  • Allison DB (1993) Limitations of coefficient of variation as index of measurement reliability. Nutrition 9:559–561

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashfor RF, Nagelburg S, Adkins R (1996) Sensitivity of the Jamar dynamometer in detecting submaximal grip effort. J Hand Surg 21A:402–405

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson G, Nevill AM (1998) Statistical methods for assessing measurement error (reliability) in variables relevant to sports medicine. Sports Med 26:217–238

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baumgarter TA (1989) Norm-referenced measurement: reliability. In: Safrit MJ, Wood TM (eds) Measurement concepts in physical education and exercise science. Human Kinetics, Champaign, pp 45–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohannon RW (1987) Differentiation of maximal from submaximal static elbow flexor efforts by measurement variability. Am J Phys Med 66:213–218

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bohannon RW (1997) Hand-held dynamometry: factors influencing reliability and validity. Clin Rehabil 11:263–264

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bohannon RW (1999) Intertester reliability of hand-held dynamometry: a concise summary of published research. Percept Mot Skills 88(3 Pt 1):899–902

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bovens AM, van Baak MA, Vrencken JG, Wijnen JA, Verstappen FT (1990) Variability and reliability of joint measurements. Am J Sports Med 18:58–63

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bruton A, Conway JH, Holgate ST (2000) Reliability: what is it, and how is it measured? Physiotherapy 86:94–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dvir Z (1999) Coefficient of variation in maximal and feigned static and dynamic grip efforts. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 78:216–221

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goto R, Mascie-Taylor CG (2007) Precision of measurement as a component of human variation. J Physiol Anthropol 26:253–256

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton Fairfax A, Balnave R, Adams RD (1995) Variability of grip strength during isometric contraction. Ergonomics 38:1819–1830

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton Fairfax A, Balnave R, Adams R (1997) Review of sincerity of effort testing. Saf Sci 25:237–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins WG (2000) Measures of reliability in sports medicine and science. Sports Med 30:1–15

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klipstein-Grobusch K, Georg T, Boeing H (1997) Interviewer variability in anthropometric measurements and estimates of body composition. Int J Epidemiol 26:S174–S180

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kroemer KH, Marras WS (1980) Towards an objective assessment of the “maximal voluntary contraction” component in routine muscle strength measurements. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 45:1–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lachin JM (2004) The role of measurement reliability in clinical trials. Clin Trials 1:553–566

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lechner DE, Bradbury SF, Bradley LA (1998) Detecting sincerity of effort: a summary of methods and approaches. Phys Ther 78:867–888

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mannerkorpi K, Svantesson U, Carlsson J, Ekdahl C (1999) Tests of functional limitations in fibromyalgia syndrome: a reliability study. Arthritis Care Res 12:193–199

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mathiowetz V, Weber K, Volland G, Kashman N (1984) Reliability and validity of grip and pinch strength evaluations. J Hand Surg 9:222–226

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mitterhauser MD, Muse VL, Dellon AL, Jetzer TC (1997) Detection of submaximal effort with computer-assisted grip strength measurements. J Occup Environ Med 39:1220–1227

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery PS, Gardner AW (1998) The clinical utility of a six-minute walk test in peripheral arterial occlusive disease patients. J Am Geriatr Soc 46:706–711

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muggeo M, Verlato G, Bonora E, Zoppini G, Corbellini M, de Marco R (1997) Long-term instability of fasting plasma glucose, a novel predictor of cardiovascular mortality in elderly patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: the Verona Diabetes Study. Circulation 96:1750–1754

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Portney LG, Watkins MP (2000) Foundations of clinical research: applications to practice, 2nd edn. Appleton & Lange, Norwalk

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed GF, Lynn F, Meade BD (2002) Use of coefficient of variation in assessing variability of quantitative assays. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 9:1235–1239

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson ME, MacMillan M, O’Connor P, Fuller A, Cassisi JE (1991) Reproducibility of maximal versus submaximal efforts in an isometric lumbar extension task. J Spinal Disord 4:444–448

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson ME, Geisser ME, Hanson CS, O’Connor PD (1993) Detecting submaximal efforts in grip strength testing with the coefficient of variation. J Occup Rehabil 3:45–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shechtman O (1999) Is the coefficient of variation a valid measure for detecting sincerity of effort of grip strength? Work 13:163–169

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shechtman O (2000) Using the coefficient of variation to detect sincerity of effort of grip strength: a literature review. J Hand Ther 13:25–32

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shechtman O (2001a) The coefficient of variation as a measure of sincerity of effort of grip strength, Part I: the statistical principle. J Hand Ther 14:180–187

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shechtman O (2001b) The coefficient of variation as a measure of sincerity of effort of grip strength, Part II: sensitivity and specificity. J Hand Ther 14:188–194

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shechtman O, Anton SD, Kanasky WF Jr, Robinson ME (2006) The use of the coefficient of variation in detecting sincerity of effort: a meta-analysis. Work 26:335–341

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simonsen JC (1995) Coefficient of variation as a measure of subject effort. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 76:516–520

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Streiner DL, Norman GR (1989) Health measurement scales: a practical guide to their development and use. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian L (2005) Inferences on the common coefficient of variation. Stat Med 24:2213–2220

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang CY, Olson SL, Protas EJ (2002) Test-retest strength reliability: hand-held dynamometry in community-dwelling elderly fallers. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 83:811–815

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Orit Shechtman

Authors
  1. Orit Shechtman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Orit Shechtman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Herston, 4006, Queensland, Australia

    Suhail A. R. Doi

  2. Dept. of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Herston, 4006, Queensland, Australia

    Gail M. Williams

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Shechtman, O. (2013). The Coefficient of Variation as an Index of Measurement Reliability. In: Doi, S., Williams, G. (eds) Methods of Clinical Epidemiology. Springer Series on Epidemiology and Public Health. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37131-8_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37131-8_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-37130-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-37131-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation