Reliability in Measurement

A collection of flashcards focusing on key terms and concepts related to reliability in measurement and testing.

Reliability Coefficient

Index of reliability; a proportion that indicates the ratio between true score variance and total variance.

Classical Test Theory

Assumes a score reflects both true ability and error.

Observed Score (X)

The score that a testtaker actually receives, represented by the formula X = T + E.

True Score (T)

The score that reflects a testtaker's actual ability without error.

Error (E)

The component of the observed score that does not reflect the testtaker's true ability.

Measurement Error

Factors associated with measuring a variable other than the variable itself.

Random Error

Unpredictable fluctuations causing inconsistencies in measurement.

Systematic Error

Consistent error affecting measurements that can be predicted and fixed.

Test Construction

Variation among test items within and between tests that can affect reliability.

Test Administration

Influences during testing such as environment and testtaker variables that may introduce error.

Measurement Variance

Variance can be broken into true variance and error variance.

Test-Retest Reliability

Correlating scores from the same test administered at two different times.

Carryover Effect

Influence of the first test on the results of the second test.

Parallel-Forms Reliability

Degree of relationship between various forms of a test.

Split-Half Reliability

Correlating pairs of scores from equivalent halves of a single test.

Spearman-Brown Formula

Adjusts split-half reliability estimates to account for the test's length.

Internal Consistency

Degree of correlation among items within a test.

Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha

Estimates internal consistency reliability, especially for nondichotomous items.

Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20)

Used for determining the internal consistency of dichotomous items.

Standard Error of Measurement (SEM)

Provides a measure of how much error is inherent in an observed score.

Coefficient of Inter-Scorer Reliability

Degree of agreement between different scorers for the same measure.

Kappa Statistic

Measures agreement between two or more raters, adjusted for chance.

Generalizability Theory

Examines how test scores relate under different testing conditions.

Item Response Theory (IRT)

Models the probability of a person with specific ability performing at a level.

Polytomous Test Items

Items that can be scored with three or more responses.

Dichotomous Test Items

Items that can be answered with one of two alternative responses.

Discrimination

Degree to which an item differentiates among individuals with different traits.

Validity

The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure.

Response Bias

The tendency of test-takers to respond in a certain way regardless of the content.

Test Validity

Refers to how accurately a test measures what it is intended to measure.

Criterion Validity

The extent to which a measure is related to an outcome.

Construct Validity

How well a test measures a theoretical concept or construct.

Content Validity

The degree to which test items adequately represent the construct being measured.

Reliability Estimate

Calculated to determine the consistency of a test score.

Confidence Interval

A range of values that is likely to contain the true score.

Sample Size Impact on Reliability

Larger sample sizes typically yield more accurate reliability estimates.

Item Analysis

Examines the effectiveness of each test item in measuring the construct.

Factor Analysis

Statistical method used to identify the underlying relationships between variables.

Discrimination Index

Measures how well an item differentiates between high and low scorers.

Attenuation Correction

Adjusting correlations for the effects of measurement error.

Observed Score Variation

Variance in test scores as affected by both true scores and error.

External Validity

The extent to which findings can be generalized to settings and populations outside the study.

Stable Traits

Traits that are relatively unchanging over time.

Dynamic Traits

Traits or abilities that can change over time.

Sampling Error

Error caused by observing a sample instead of the whole population.

True Score Model

Theory positing that individuals have a true score that represents their actual ability.

Domain Sampling Theory

Estimates how specific sources of variation contribute to test scores.

Construct Reliability

Consistency of a measure across different circumstances.

Standardized Tests

Tests that have been normed on a population to ensure reliability and validity.

Test Authoring

Process of creating tests to ensure appropriate measurement of constructs.

Error Variance

Variance in test scores attributed to measurement errors.

Practice Effects

Improvements in test performance due to repeated exposure to test items.

Assessment Methods

Variety of techniques used to measure constructs like personality or ability.

Item Difficulty Level

Level of challenge posed by test items to the test-takers.

Test-taker Variables

Personal factors impacting a test-taker's performance.

Administering Conditions

Conditions under which a test is administered that can affect outcomes.

Quantitative Assessment

Measurement methods that rely heavily on numerical data.

Qualitative Assessment

Measurement approaches focusing on non-numeric data, like interviews.

Final Score Calculation

Process of deriving a test score from observed performances.

Testing Paradigms

Frameworks guiding the design and interpretation of tests.

Statistical Power

The likelihood that a test will correctly reject a false null hypothesis.

P-value

Probability that the observed results would occur by chance if the null hypothesis were true.

Standard Error of Difference

Provides a measure to assess the significance of differences between two scores.

Consistency Across Measures

The extent to which test results are stable across different conditions.

Random Sample

A sample that fairly represents a population due to random selection.

Longitudinal Studies

Research studies that follow the same subjects over a period of time.

Cross-Sectional Studies

Studies that analyze data from a population at a specific point in time.

Behavioral Observations

Assessments based on observing individuals' behavior in various contexts.

Research Ethics

Moral principles guiding researchers in conducting their work.

Test Administration Procedures

Standardized methods for giving tests to ensure fairness and consistency.

Behavioral Checklists

Tools used for rating behaviors based on specific criteria.

Nonverbal Assessment

Evaluation methods that do not rely on verbal responses.

Chronic Conditions

Ongoing health issues that may affect test performance.

Emotional State Impact

Influence of a test-taker's mood on test performance.

Test User Training

Education for test administrators to ensure proper use of tests.

Effect of Instructions on Responses

How guidance given to test-takers can shape their answers.

Reliability in Educational Settings

Importance of consistency in assessments used in academic environments.