Instructions for Useful Method Repeatability Calculations

Adapted by Carl Houtman and Ann Timberlake 4/8/2010 from the Precision Data
Calculation by Carl Houtman 11/22/2004

This spreadsheet provides an implementation of the repeatability calculations similar to
those in TAPPI standard T 1200, "Interlaboratory Evaluation of Test Methods to
Determine TAPPI Repeatability and Reproducibility".

There are two different ways to calculate the repeatability, "Like" and "Unlike". If all the
specimens come from the same material use the "Like" calculation, which assumes that
the average is the same for all specimens. Otherwise, use the "Unlike" calculation,
which makes no assumption about the averages.

Test the number of specimens specified in the method at least three (3) times and no
more than ten (10) times to obtain test results. Enter the test determinations from the
specimens in cells B6 through B15. Enter successive test determinations in columns C
through K, depending on how many times you perform the method. Leave unused cells
empty; do not enter zero (0) in any cell.

For "Like" the repeatability is found in cell C26 and the repeatability percentage in cell
C27, and for "Unlike" the repeatability percentage is in cell C21

If the test method requires more than 10 specimens, you may add rows and copy and
paste the calculations into the added cells. You will have to make appropriate changes
to the calculations also.


Do not enter zero in any cell; if data is missing leave the cell blank.
Specimen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Test Determination 1 119.3 118.4 124.5 113.8
Test Determination 2 121.0 122.5 123.5 117.2
Test Determination 3 119.5 119.6 126.2 112.8
Test Determination 4 126.8 122.8 125.4 118.6
Test Determination 5 124.2 123.5 122.5 121.5
Test Determination 6 123.1 120.9 126.7 120.3
Test Determination 7 122.1 122.6 120.8 116.2
Test Determination 8 121.9 122.8 126.1 114.9
Test Determination 9 123.4 120.8 124.9 115.8
Test Determination 10 123.6 122.9 125.8 112.2
Average (Test Result) 122.5 121.7 124.6 116.3
Std Dev 2.26 1.68 1.87 3.10
Std Dev^2 5.09 2.81 3.49 9.63
Test Det Count 10 10 10 10
Grand Mean X 121.3
Grand Std Dev Sx 3.5
Specimen Count p 4
Repeat Std Dev Sr 2.3
Repeatability r 6.4
Repeatability % %r 5.2%
Example
Do not enter zero in any cell; if data is missing leave the cell blank.
Specimen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Test Determination 1
Test Determination 2
Test Determination 3
Test Determination 4
Test Determination 5
Test Determination 6
Test Determination 7
Test Determination 8
Test Determination 9
Test Determination 10
Average (Test Result)
Std Dev
Std Dev^2
Test Det Count
Grand Mean X
Grand Std Dev Sx
Specimen Count p
Repeat Std Dev Sr
Repeatability r
Repeatability % %r
Repeatability for Like Specimens
Do not enter zero in any cell; if data is missing leave the cell blank.
Specimen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Test Determination 1 24.0 31.0 40.0
Test Determination 2 25.0 31.0 43.0
Test Determination 3 26.0 31.0 44.0
Test Determination 4
Test Determination 5
Test Determination 6
Test Determination 7
Test Determination 8
Test Determination 9
Test Determination 10
Average (Test Result) 25.0 31.0 42.3
Coefficient of Variance 4% 0% 5%
COV^2 0.002 0.000 0.002
Test Det Count 3 3 3
Ave COV Sx 4%
Specimen Count p 3
Repeatablity % r% 10%
Example for Starch (Unlike Specimens)
Do not enter zero in any cell; if data is missing leave the cell blank.
Specimen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Test Determination 1
Test Determination 2
Test Determination 3
Test Determination 4
Test Determination 5
Test Determination 6
Test Determination 7
Test Determination 8
Test Determination 9
Test Determination 10
Average (Test Result)
Coefficient of Variance
COV^2
Test Det Count
Ave COV Sx
Specimen Count p
Repeatablity % r%
Repeatability for Unlike Specimens