Reliability (Consistency)

Question 1

Internal Reliability

Answer 1

Refers to consistency within the study e.g. Do all questions in the study measure the same thing?

Question 2

External Reliability

Answer 2

Whether the study has consistency over time e.g. Does the same interview with the same participants produce the same answers a week later?

Question 3

Split-Half Reliability

Answer 3

Test split into two halves to see if participants have similar answers on both halves, which would mean all questions measure the same thing

Scores may be compared by calculating a correlation co-efficient and observing a significant value

Question 4

Test-Retest Reliability

Answer 4

Participants given same questionnaire/ interview an appropriate amount of time later so they forget original answers to see if the results are similar, if so, there is external reliability

Question 5

Inter-Rater Reliability

Answer 5

Two or more researchers agree on an IV, conduct a pilot study, then separately record behaviours at same time

After, a correlation of +0.8 or more is hopefully found to see if the results are significant and have internal reliability