Abstract
Increased emphasis on the use of single-subject designs in physical therapy research suggests the need to examine whether therapists can meaningfully interpret the results of such research as part of the clinical decision-making process. With this goal in mind, the interrater reliability of therapists to make visual judgments from graphed data that included a trend line was examined. Thirty therapists were presented with 24 graphs of single-subject data from AB (baseline-treatment) designs. Each graph included a trend line calculated using the split-middle method of trend estimation. The trend line was computed using the baseline data and then extended into the treatment phase to 'predict' patient performance. The analysis, using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), revealed low interrater agreement, with ICC values ranging from .37 to .55 for the entire sample. Evidence is presented that the statistical backgrounds of some raters positively influenced interrater reliability. No statistically significant relationship was found between interrater agreement and visual components of the graphed data, such as changes in slope or variability.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 107-115 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Physical Therapy |
| Volume | 71 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - 1991 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Decision making
- Research
- Research design
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Health Professions(all)
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Cite this
Interrater reliability of therapists' judgments of graphed data. / Harbst, K. B.; Ottenbacher, Kenneth; Harris, S. R.
In: Physical Therapy, Vol. 71, No. 2, 1991, p. 107-115.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Interrater reliability of therapists' judgments of graphed data
AU - Harbst, K. B.
AU - Ottenbacher, Kenneth
AU - Harris, S. R.
PY - 1991
Y1 - 1991
N2 - Increased emphasis on the use of single-subject designs in physical therapy research suggests the need to examine whether therapists can meaningfully interpret the results of such research as part of the clinical decision-making process. With this goal in mind, the interrater reliability of therapists to make visual judgments from graphed data that included a trend line was examined. Thirty therapists were presented with 24 graphs of single-subject data from AB (baseline-treatment) designs. Each graph included a trend line calculated using the split-middle method of trend estimation. The trend line was computed using the baseline data and then extended into the treatment phase to 'predict' patient performance. The analysis, using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), revealed low interrater agreement, with ICC values ranging from .37 to .55 for the entire sample. Evidence is presented that the statistical backgrounds of some raters positively influenced interrater reliability. No statistically significant relationship was found between interrater agreement and visual components of the graphed data, such as changes in slope or variability.
AB - Increased emphasis on the use of single-subject designs in physical therapy research suggests the need to examine whether therapists can meaningfully interpret the results of such research as part of the clinical decision-making process. With this goal in mind, the interrater reliability of therapists to make visual judgments from graphed data that included a trend line was examined. Thirty therapists were presented with 24 graphs of single-subject data from AB (baseline-treatment) designs. Each graph included a trend line calculated using the split-middle method of trend estimation. The trend line was computed using the baseline data and then extended into the treatment phase to 'predict' patient performance. The analysis, using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), revealed low interrater agreement, with ICC values ranging from .37 to .55 for the entire sample. Evidence is presented that the statistical backgrounds of some raters positively influenced interrater reliability. No statistically significant relationship was found between interrater agreement and visual components of the graphed data, such as changes in slope or variability.
KW - Decision making
KW - Research
KW - Research design
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0025970836&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0025970836&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 1989006
AN - SCOPUS:0025970836
VL - 71
SP - 107
EP - 115
JO - Physical Therapy
JF - Physical Therapy
SN - 0031-9023
IS - 2
ER -