A2 RESEARCH METHODS - Reliability

Question 1

Reliability

Answer 1

An experiment is repeated and the results are the same initially and again

Question 2

internal reliability

Answer 2

If the measurement instruments used give the same results on different occasions

Question 3

Rulers vs rating scales as measuring instruments

Answer 3

Rules are reliable as they are objective. rating scales are less reliable as they are open to subjectivity

Question 4

Intra-researcher reliability

Answer 4

consistency of the behaviour of the researcher in terms of recording data

Question 5

Test re-test

Answer 5

Repeating an experiment/observation/self-report and comparing results gained from the second time with the first time. reliability means correlation coefficient > +0.8

Question 6

Improving reliability: inter observer reliability

Answer 6

Just using one observer means researcher bias is introduced; use multiple observers and record behaviours independently. then compare and correlation coefficient > +0.8.

operationalise behavioural categories and train observers further

Question 7

Improving reliability: questions in interviews

Answer 7

Make sure interview questions are unambiguous so pps give the same answers in the future

Question 8

Improving reliability: standardisation of instructions

Answer 8

If an experiment is conducted twice, then the procedures should be the exactly the same for each participant.

standardise instructions and operationalise key concepts and variables