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Inter‐/Intra‐observer Reliability of Hand Assessment Using Skin Detail: A Count‐based Method
Author(s) -
Malone Christina A.,
Salyards Michael J.,
Hein Meredith
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12824
Subject(s) - reliability (semiconductor) , correlation , grayscale , observer (physics) , artificial intelligence , mathematics , medicine , statistics , computer science , image (mathematics) , power (physics) , physics , geometry , quantum mechanics
Skin detail of the hand is used in photographic comparisons, yet its reliability has not been evaluated. This study examines a count‐based method for documenting skin features. In P art I , 14 individuals counted skin features on 40 color images of the hand, three of which were repeated. An average correlation value of 0.557 was obtained for interobserver assessment; values ranged from 0.545 to 0.832 for intra‐observer assessment. The variation in correlation values for hands suggests that there are certain distinguishing characteristics that increase reliability. In P art II , 17 examiners assessed 20 nonrepeated grayscale images of hands by circling skin features. An average correlation value of 0.674 was obtained, but visual assessment of examiner markings suggested some examiners grouped features whereas others viewed them individually. The results suggest further research is warranted, some hands may be more suitable for comparisons, and a standardized method for examining skin features is needed.