Reliability and Validity in Measurement

Flashcards on key vocabulary and concepts related to reliability and validity in clinical measurement.

Reliability

The extent to which a measurement is free from error and gives the same answer when measuring the same construct several times.

Validity

The extent to which the score on a measure truly reflects the construct it is supposed to measure.

Intrarater reliability

Reliability when the same rater takes the measure on one patient on several occasions.

Interrater reliability

Reliability when multiple raters use the same measure on a single person.

Latent Constructs

Unobservable constructs such as pain, quality of life or disability.

Reference Standard

A sort of imperfect gold standard used when there is no gold standard to test validity.

Hypothesis Testing

Involves setting out a series of hypotheses before collecting data, theorizing relationships between a score on the measure and other characteristics to test validity.