title: Interobserver Reliability of the Total Body Score System for Quantifying Human Decomposition.
abstract: Several authors have tested the accuracy of the Total Body Score (TBS) method for quantifying decomposition, but none have examined the reliability of the method as a scoring system by testing interobserver error rates. Sixteen participants used the TBS system to score 59 observation packets including photographs and written descriptions of 13 human cadavers in different stages of decomposition (postmortem interval: 2-186 days). Data analysis used a two-way random model intraclass correlation in SPSS (v. 17.0). The TBS method showed "almost perfect" agreement between observers, with average absolute correlation coefficients of 0.990 and average consistency correlation coefficients of 0.991. While the TBS method may have sources of error, scoring reliability is not one of them. Individual component scores were examined, and the influences of education and experience levels were investigated. Overall, the trunk component scores were the least concordant. Suggestions are made to improve the reliability of the TBS method.
authors.affiliation: Southern Illinois University, Department of Anthropology, 1000 Faner Dr., Mail Code 4502, Carbondale, IL, 62901.
authors.forename: Gretchen R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Dabbs
authors.affiliation: Colorado Mesa University, Forensic Investigation Research Station, 1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO, 81501.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.affiliation: Sam Houston State University, Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science Facility, Box 2296, Huntsville, Texas, 77341.
authors.forename: Joan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bytheway
mesh_terms: D000071298:Body Remains; D004282:Documentation; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010781:Photography; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011361:Professional Competence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Total Body Score; decomposition; forensic anthropology; forensic science; interobserver error; reliability; taphonomy