Hand preference is commonly measured via self-report using instruments known as handedness inventories. These instruments query which hand subjects use to perform unimanual object-based tasks and also the consistency of usage. Scores reveal which hand people report using most (i.e., which hand is preferred). Some people report highly consistent usage of their preferred hand while others report relatively inconsistent usage. These reports are often assumed to be accurate descriptions of people’s actual behavior, but empirical evidence concerning their validity is surprisingly scant. In the present research, subjects completed a handedness inventory on which higher scores indicated more consistent usage of the preferred hand. After a brief filled interval, subjects performed tasks listed on the inventory, spontaneously choosing which hand to use for each task. Subjects who scored higher on the inventory used the preferred hand more often. Subjects were then timed while performing the tasks as fast as they could with each hand. Subjects were faster when using their preferred hand and the magnitude of the preferred hand advantage was positively correlated with self-reported consistency. These results support the validity of inventory scores by showing that they are related to spontaneous hand choice and manual fluency when performing inventory tasks.

通常，习惯偏好是通过使用所谓的习惯清单进行自我报告来衡量的。这些工具查询哪些手受试者用于执行基于对象的单手任务以及用法的一致性。分数显示人们报告使用最多的那只手（即，首选哪只手）。有些人报告了其惯用手的高度一致用法，而另一些人则报告了相对不一致的用法。这些报告通常被认为是人们实际行为的准确描述，但是令人惊讶的是，缺乏有关其有效性的经验证据。在本研究中，受试者完成了惯用度清单，其得分越高表示首选手的用法越一致。在短暂的填充间隔后，受试者执行清单中列出的任务，自发地选择用于每项任务的手。在清单上得分较高的受试者更常使用首选手。然后为受试者计时，同时用两只手尽可能快地执行任务。受试者在使用自己的惯用手时速度更快，并且惯用手优势的大小与自我报告的一致性呈正相关。这些结果表明库存分数与执行库存任务时的自发选择和手动流畅度相关，从而支持库存分数的有效性。受试者在使用自己的惯用手时速度更快，并且惯用手优势的大小与自我报告的一致性呈正相关。这些结果表明库存分数与执行库存任务时的自发选择和手动流畅度相关，从而支持库存分数的有效性。受试者在使用自己的惯用手时速度更快，并且惯用手优势的大小与自我报告的一致性呈正相关。这些结果表明库存分数与执行库存任务时的自发选择和手动流畅度相关，从而支持库存分数的有效性。