Reliability of the Finger Tapping Test and a Note on Sex Differences

Abstract

The reliability of the Finger Tapping Test was investigated in two studies. In the test-retest condition 30 male and 30 female college students were tested twice by the same examiner. In the inter-examiner condition 30 male and 30 female college students were tested once by each of two examiners. Reliability coefficients for the dominant and nondominant hands were high in both studies (about .8), as contrasted with that of the ratio score (about .5), casting doubt on the use of the ratio score to lateralize impairment. Significant sex differences (males about 3 taps faster) were found, calling into question the use of single test interpretation schemes. Slight inter-examiner differences in mean scores were also detected.