Reliability

Question 1

What is reliability

Answer 1

The consistency of measurements

Question 2

What are two ways of assessing reliability

Answer 2

1. test-retest
2. Inter-observer, inter-interviewer, inter-rater reliability

Question 3

What is test-retest reliability

Answer 3

The same assessment given to the same participants on two separate occasions to see if the same results can be obtained. The results are correlated and if the correlation coefficient is +.80 it is reliable.

Question 4

What is inter-observer reliability

Answer 4

The extent to which there is an agreement between two or more observers involved in observations of a behaviour. If the scores have a correlation coefficient of +.80 it is reliable.

Question 5

How can researchers improve the reliability of an observation

Answer 5

Ensure the behavioural categories are operationalised clearly - no overlapping and are measurable

Question 6

How can researchers improve the reliability of a questionnaire

Answer 6

Ensure the questions are not too complex

Question 7

How can researchers improve the reliability of an interview

Answer 7

If possible use the same interviewer each time. If not then ensure interviewers are properly trained and use more structured interviews

Question 8

How can researchers improve the reliability of experiments

Answer 8

Ensure procedures are standardised