Understanding Reliability and Validity in Measurements

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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of conducting a study again with different samples or in different settings?

To establish internal validity

To replicate the study and ensure generalizability of the findings (correct)

To avoid the Hawthorne effect

To minimize selection bias

Which of the following is a threat to external validity?

History (correct)

Social interaction

Instrumentation

Maturation

What is the term for the tendency of participants to change their behavior because they know they are being studied?

Situation effect

Hawthorne effect (correct)

Testing effect

Experimental effect

What is the purpose of using inclusion and exclusion criteria in a study?

To reduce selection bias Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a threat to internal validity?

History Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the consistency of a measure?

Reliability Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the accuracy of a measure?

Validity Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a threat to external validity?

Instrumentation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of checking the consistency of results across time?

To assess the reliability of a measurement Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between a reliable and a valid measurement?

A reliable measurement is not always valid, but a valid measurement is always reliable Signup and view all the answers

If a method is not reliable, what can be inferred about its validity?

It is probably not valid Signup and view all the answers

What type of reliability assesses the consistency of a measure across different researchers?

Inter-rater reliability Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of low reliability?

Several different doctors use the same questionnaire with the same patient but give different diagnoses Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of assessing the reliability of a measurement?

To determine whether the measurement is reliable Signup and view all the answers

What type of reliability assesses the consistency of a measure across different items?

Internal consistency Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between reliability and validity?

Reliability is a prerequisite for validity Signup and view all the answers

What should you do when devising questions or measures to improve internal consistency?

Formulate questions based on the same theory Signup and view all the answers

Which type of reliability is relevant when measuring a property that is expected to stay the same over time?

Test-retest Signup and view all the answers

What is validity?

How accurately a method measures what it is intended to measure Signup and view all the answers

What is internal validity?

The extent to which the observed results represent the truth in the population we are studying Signup and view all the answers

What is external validity?

The extent to which the observed results can be generalized to other situations Signup and view all the answers

Which type of validity refers to whether the test appears to be suitable to its aims?

Face validity Signup and view all the answers

What is content validity?

Whether the test is fully representative of what it aims to measure Signup and view all the answers

What is criterion validity?

Whether the results correspond to a different test of the same thing Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal when formulating questions to improve test-retest reliability?

To minimize the influence of external factors on participants' responses Signup and view all the answers

How is inter-rater reliability typically measured?

By comparing the results of different researchers conducting the same measurement on the same sample Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a scenario where high inter-rater reliability is demonstrated?

A team of researchers observe the progress of wound healing in patients and there is a strong correlation between their ratings Signup and view all the answers

What is a key step in improving inter-rater reliability?

Clearly defining variables and methods for measurement Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of internal consistency?

To measure the correlation between different responses to a set of statements Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a scenario where internal consistency is low?

A group of respondents rate high on depression indicators but the correlation between responses is very weak Signup and view all the answers

What is a common method used to measure internal consistency?

Average inter-item correlation Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to ensure that all researchers have the same information and training when measuring inter-rater reliability?

To ensure that all researchers are using the same criteria and methods for measurement Signup and view all the answers

What is the main threat to internal validity that occurs when participants are repeatedly tested using the same measures?

Testing Signup and view all the answers

What type of validity is concerned with the extent to which study findings can be generalized to other situations, people, and settings?

External Validity Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the statistical tendency for people who score extremely low or high on a test to score closer to the mean the next time?

Regression to the mean Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of using statistical methods to adjust for problems related to external validity?

To do reprocessing or calibration Signup and view all the answers

What is the main threat to internal validity that occurs when groups are not comparable at the beginning of the study?

Selection Bias Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the process of making sure that participants experience the events of a study as a real event?

Realism Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the extent to which findings of a qualitative study can be generalized to other situations, people, and settings?

Transferability Signup and view all the answers

What is the main threat to internal validity that occurs as a natural result of time, such as participants growing older or becoming tired?

Maturation Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Reliability and Validity

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, whether the results can be reproduced under the same conditions
Validity refers to the accuracy of a measure, whether the results really do represent what they are supposed to measure

Types of Reliability

Test-retest reliability: consistency of a measure across time
Inter-rater reliability: consistency of a measure across raters or observers
Internal consistency: consistency of a measure across items or questions

Improving Reliability

Formulate questions and statements to minimize external influences
Ensure consistent testing conditions and minimize changes in participants over time
Clearly define variables and methods for inter-rater reliability
Use detailed, objective criteria for rating variables
Ensure multiple researchers have the same information and training

Threats to External Validity

Selection bias: sample not representative of the population
History: unrelated events influence outcomes
Experimenter effect: researchers unintentionally influence outcomes
Hawthorne effect: participants change behavior due to being studied
Testing effect: pre- or post-test affects outcomes
Situation effect: setting, time of day, location, etc. limit generalizability
Sample features: results influenced by specific sample characteristics

Validity

Face validity: content of the test appears suitable for its aims
Construct validity: test measures the concept it's intended to measure
Content validity: test is fully representative of what it aims to measure
Criterion validity: results correspond to a different test of the same thing

Ensuring Validity in Research

Threats to internal validity: maturation, regression to the mean, testing, selection bias
Threats to external validity: selection bias, history, experimenter effect, Hawthorne effect, testing effect, situation effect, sample features
Use statistical methods to adjust for external validity problems

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Description

Learn about the importance of reliability and validity in measurements, and how to ensure accurate results in research and testing.