Title
A literature review of anthropometric studies of school students for ergonomics purposes: Are accuracy, precision and reliability being considered?
Author
Bravo, G. (Universidad de Las Américas)
Bragança, S. (Southampton Solent University)
Arezes, P.M. (University of Minho)
Molenbroek, J.F.M. (TU Delft Applied Ergonomics and Design) 
Castellucci, H.I. (Universidad de Valparaíso)
Date
2018
Abstract
Background: Despite offering many benefits, direct manual anthropometric measurement method can be problematic due to their vulnerability to measurement errors. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this literature review was to determine, whether or not the currently published anthropometric studies of school children, related to ergonomics, mentioned or evaluated the variables precision, reliability or accuracy in the direct manual measurement method. METHODS: Two bibliographic databases, and the bibliographic references of all the selected papers were used for finding relevant published papers in the fields considered in this study. RESULTS: Forty-six (46) studies met the criteria previously defined for this literature review. However, only ten (10) studies mentioned at least one of the analyzed variables, and none has evaluated all of them. Only reliability was assessed by three papers. Moreover, in what regards the factors that affect precision, reliability and accuracy, the reviewed papers presented large differences. This was particularly clear in the instruments used for the measurements, which were not consistent throughout the studies. Additionally, it was also clear that there was a lack of information regarding the evaluators' training and procedures for anthropometric data collection, which are assumed to be the most important issues that affect precision, reliability and accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the review of the literature, it was possible to conclude that the considered anthropometric studies had not focused their attention to the analysis of precision, reliability and accuracy of the manual measurement methods. Hence, and with the aim of avoiding measurement errors and misleading data, anthropometric studies should put more efforts and care on testing measurement error and defining the procedures used to collect anthropometric data.
Subject
Anthropometry
measurements
repeatability
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:c2d4ed46-34eb-4af5-9ffc-f8cfb91d8f10
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-182719
Embargo date
2018-12-20
ISSN
1051-9815
Source
Work: a journal of prevention, assessment & rehabilitation, 60 (1), 3-17
Bibliographical note
Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.
Part of collection
Institutional Repository
Document type
review
Rights
© 2018 G. Bravo, S. Bragança, P.M. Arezes, J.F.M. Molenbroek, H.I. Castellucci