Of the many variables that influence the laboratory-test shearing strength of saturated homogeneous clays, the effect of sample disturbance (partial remolding) has received little constructive analysis. It has generally been assumed that sample disturbance reduces the laboratory shearing strength and thereby results in an added factor of safety when the test results are applied to field design. It will be demonstrated herein for certain clay soils of the type tested that, due to sample disturbance, the actual field shear strength may be less than the laboratory-test shear strength. A method of analyzing strength data is described, in which is considered the effect of sample disturbance.