Abstract
Due to the ease of obtaining subjects, much ergonomics research utilizes students. However, is it valid to make a hypothesis concerning industrial workers from this student data? To evaluate the validity of such a generalization, ten industrial workers and ten students, five men and five women from each subject sample participated in the study. The functional range of motion for extension and flexion in the wrist and anthropometric measurements of the hand and arm were measured for each subject. In addition, the three-jaw chuck pinch force and endurance and power grasp force and endurance were also measured. The data was analyzed using both paired comparisons and ANOVA tests. Only power grasp force showed a strength difference between students and industrial workers. The students had 82.9% of the grasp force of the industrial workers.
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