Speed of manipulative performance as a function of work-surface height

Abstract

48 subjects performed a manipulative task at 6 levels of work-surface height, ranging from a minimum average height of 25.9 in. to a maximum average height of 52.7 in. A Latin-square experimental design was used, in which each S worked at each work-surface height for a 3-minute trial. It was found that statistically significant variations in speed of manipulative performance were associated with variations in work-surface height. Maximum performance occurred at an average height of 42 inches, which corresponds to a setting approximately 3 inches below the elbow. Significantly slower performance occurred at higher work-surface heights than at lower heights. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)