Evaluation of Various Kinds of Measurement Applying a Hypothesis of Even Distribution of Last Digit in the Recorded Numbers

Abstract

The appearance of the last digit of any number, composed of several digits, as a result of a measurement out of large number of samles, is expected to be evenly distributed between figures zero and nine. Variety of measurement results, such as population, reading in thermometer, height, weight and blood pressure, were collected in order to ascertain the hypothesis above by applying x^2-test. This, in turn, would mean an exmination of validity and reliability in administration of data. The hypothesis was proved to be correct in the cases of demographic values. Among the measurement recordings, the last digit appeared more frequently to be figures zero and five, when the value had to be momentarily recorded as the dial indicator was not well fixed, than the cases when it could be fixed. The body weight readings showed this trend most greatly as the age of subjects advanced. The results indicate the unstrict attitude of the tester and the subject towards accurate measurement under certain circumstances.