reliability

Question 1

define reliability

Answer 1

how consistent a measuring device is, including psychological tests or observations which assess behaviour.

A measuring device is said to be reliable if it produces the same consistent results every time

Question 2

4 ways of assess reliability

Answer 2

• test - retest reliability
• inter - observer reliability
• inter - rater reliability
• inter - interviewer reliability

Question 3

define test - retest reliability

Answer 3

participants take the same test on different occasions

( a high correlation between test scores indicates the test has good external reliability)

Question 4

what is test - retest reliability used with

Answer 4

questionnaires

psychological tests

interviews

Question 5

why is a an appropiate time frame needed between the distribution of the 2 tests

Answer 5

to ensure participants cannot recall answers but not so long that their attitudes, opinions or abilities have changed

Question 6

when is inter - observer reliability used

Answer 6

in observations

Question 7

define inter - observer reliability

Answer 7

the extent to which there is an agreement between 2 or more independent observers involved in observing behaviours

Question 8

why is inter - observer reliability used

Answer 8

when there are 2 observers who have undertaken a pilot study to ensure that they agree they are observing behaviour by using the same behavioural categories in the same way

they must record their observations independently and come together at the end to see if they are correlated

Question 9

define inter - rater reliability

Answer 9

measured during content analysis

( a research technique that indirectly studies behaviour by examining communication that people produce e.g: text, emails, films)

Question 10

define content analysis

Answer 10

a research technique that indirectly studies behaviour by examining communication that people produce e.g: text, emails, films

Question 11

define inter - interviewer reliability

Answer 11

measured during interviews if these are conducted by different people

Question 12

how to improve reliability in questionnaires

Answer 12

• use fixed choice and close questions
  (as they are less ambigious)

Question 13

how to improve reliability in interviews (3 marks)

Answer 13

• no leading questions or ambiguous questions
• use structured interviews with fixed questions
• use same interviewer each time or 2 people conducting an interview at the same time

Question 14

how to improve reliability in observations (1 mark)

Answer 14

• operationalise behavioural categories so they don’t overlap

Question 15

how to improve reliability in experiments (3 marks)

Answer 15

• consistent procedures
• standardised procedures
• standardised instructions