Reliability

Question 1

Reliability of Observational techniques : Assessing reliability

Answer 1

• To record a reliable measurement of behaviour the observer should repeat the observations a second time.
• Observers agree on behavioural categories
• Inter observer reliability is the extent to which observers agree on observations they record.
• If correlation coefficient is +0.8 inter observer reliability is high.

Question 2

Improving reliability : Observational techniques

Answer 2

1) Behavioural categories were not operationalised clearly enough. Leading to observers interpreting actions differently.

2) Observers just may need more practice using behavioural categories so they can respond more quickly.

Question 3

Assessing reliability : Self report techniques.

Answer 3

1) Test-retest reliability - where a researcher gives participants a test then gives the same people the same test a second time with a short time period in between ( a week). If the measure is reliable the outcome should be the same every time.

2) Inter-Interviewer reliability - Assess the reliability of an interviewer by comparing answers on one occasion with answers from the same person and same interviewer a week later.

Question 4

Self report techniques : Improving reliability

Answer 4

Reducing ambiguity of the questions asked and to overcome this questions need to be examined and may have to be rewritten.

Question 5

Experiments : Assessing reliability

Answer 5

May be concerned whether the method used to measure the dependent variable is consistent e.g self report

Question 6

Experiments : Improving reliability

Answer 6

Standardised procedures - important that the procedures are the same everytime (reliable) because otherwise we cannot compare performance of participants.

And if any other researcher wishes to repeat the experiment they will have to use the same procedures.