INTRARATER AND INTERRATER OBJECTIVITY OF THE ERHARDT DEVELOPMENTAL PREHENSION ASSESSMENT AMONG TRAINED AND UNTRAINED EXAMINERS

Seven trained and eight untrained examiners rated the videotaped perfo rmance of one child with the Erhardt Developmental Prehension Assessme nt to determine intrarater and interrater objectivity. Objectivity is one component of reliability. Reliability studies reflect errors becau se of subject performance changes and rater inconsistencies in applyin g scoring criteria. Objectivity, through the use of videotaped perform ances, investigates those errors in assessments caused by the inconsis tency of applying scoring criteria. Findings demonstrated high levels of intrarater objectivity and moderate to high levels of interrater ob jectivity for trained examiners. Training led to significantly increas ed correlation coefficients for interrater tests. Results of the study are discussed in relation to possible sources of instability of score s, the use of the assessment in the clinic, and directions future rese arch could take in further development of this instrument.