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Reliability of age at death in the hamann‐todd collection: Validity of subselection procedures used in blind tests of the summary age technique
Author(s) -
Meindl Richard S.,
Russell Katherine F.,
Lovejoy C. Owen
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330830308
Subject(s) - reliability (semiconductor) , sample (material) , population , selection (genetic algorithm) , statistics , sample size determination , demography , psychology , mathematics , computer science , artificial intelligence , chemistry , power (physics) , physics , chromatography , quantum mechanics , sociology
The blind test procedures used by Lovejoy et al., ( Am. J. Phys. Anthropol . 68:1–14, 1985a) have been criticized because they used the Hamann‐Todd collection as their known‐age population. It has been suggested that variation within this sample was reduced by selection procedures designed to ensure accuracy of age at death. Powerful statistical tests for differences in dispersion of ages for pubic symphyseal stages were applied to comparisons between their core sample (N = 238) and those of a large autopsy‐room collection used to develop the Suchey‐Brooks System (N = 530). The variances in ages of the selected Hamann‐Todd Sample are not reduced. The careful subselection of specimens has resulted in a valid statistical core sample for use in the development of aging methodologies.