Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment

Observer Variation

The failure by the observer to measure or identify a phenomenon accurately, which results in an error. Sources for this may be due to the observer's missing an abnormality, or to faulty technique resulting in incorrect test measurement, or to misinterpretation of the data. Two varieties are inter-observer variation (the amount observers vary from one another when reporting on the same material) and intra-observer variation (the amount one observer varies between observations when reporting more than once on the same material).

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The failure by the observer to measure or identify a phenomenon accurately, which results in an error. Sources for this may be due to the observer's missing an abnormality, or to faulty technique resulting in incorrect test measurement, or to misinterpretation of the data. Two varieties are inter-observer variation (the amount observers vary from one another when reporting on the same material) and intra-observer variation (the amount one observer varies between observations when reporting more than once on the same material).

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

41 entry terms
  • Bias, Observer
  • Observer Bias
  • Observer Variations
  • Variation, Observer
  • Variations, Observer
  • Inter-Observer Variability
  • Inter-Observer Variation
  • Interobserver Variability
  • Interobserver Variation
  • Intra-Observer Variability
  • Intra-Observer Variation
  • Intraobserver Variability
  • Intraobserver Variation
  • Inter Observer Variability
  • Inter Observer Variation
  • Inter-Observer Variabilities
  • Inter-Observer Variations
  • Interobserver Variabilities
  • Interobserver Variations
  • Intra Observer Variability
  • Intra Observer Variation
  • Intra-Observer Variabilities
  • Intra-Observer Variations
  • Intraobserver Variabilities
  • Intraobserver Variations
  • Variabilities, Inter-Observer
  • Variabilities, Interobserver
  • Variabilities, Intra-Observer
  • Variabilities, Intraobserver
  • Variability, Inter-Observer
  • Variability, Interobserver
  • Variability, Intra-Observer
  • Variability, Intraobserver
  • Variation, Inter-Observer
  • Variation, Interobserver
  • Variation, Intra-Observer
  • Variation, Intraobserver
  • Variations, Inter-Observer
  • Variations, Interobserver
  • Variations, Intra-Observer
  • Variations, Intraobserver

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

IM general only

MeSH Record

History Note

90

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. E01w.354.753
  2. N02.421.450w.600
  3. N05.715w.350.150w.675
  4. N06.850w.490.500w.250

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Observer Variation. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D015588. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D015588
  2. Observer Variation. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q70347943