Which of the following is NOT a type of the reliability??(5 point.)
a. interrater reliability.
b. alternate-forms reliability.
c. test/retest reliability.
d. criterion reliability.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is:
d. criterion reliability.
Explanation:
Reliability in the context of measurement and assessment refers to the consistency and stability of a test or measurement tool. In research, when we say something is reliable, we mean that it consistently produces the same results under the same conditions. The major types of reliability include:
- Interrater Reliability:
- This type of reliability assesses the degree to which different raters or observers give consistent estimates of the same phenomenon. It is crucial in situations where subjective judgment is required, such as in behavioral assessments or scoring of open-ended questions. For example, if two teachers grade the same set of student essays, interrater reliability would measure how similarly they score the essays.
- Example: Two psychologists independently diagnosing a patient with the same set of symptoms.
- Alternate-Forms Reliability:
- This type of reliability refers to the consistency of scores across different versions of the same test. It is used when a test has multiple forms or versions, and the goal is to assess whether these versions are equivalent in terms of their measurement properties.
- Example: A teacher gives different forms of a math test to the same students, and alternate-forms reliability tests whether the students’ scores are consistent across versions.
- Test/Retest Reliability:
- This type of reliability assesses the stability of test scores over time. To determine test/retest reliability, the same test is administered to the same group of individuals at two different points in time. If the results are consistent, the test is said to have high test/retest reliability.
- Example: Administering the same IQ test to a group of people at two different time points and comparing their scores.
- Criterion Reliability (Incorrect Term):
- Criterion reliability is not a recognized type of reliability. Instead, the correct term is criterion-related validity, which measures how well one test or measurement tool correlates with another measure that is known to be valid (the criterion). Criterion-related validity is a form of validity, not reliability, and it involves comparing the test scores to an external criterion to assess the test’s effectiveness.
- Example: Comparing a new employee selection test to actual job performance ratings to see if the test is predictive of future success.
In conclusion, while interrater reliability, alternate-forms reliability, and test/retest reliability are all valid types of reliability, criterion reliability is not a standard term in reliability theory. Instead, “criterion-related validity” is the appropriate concept.