chapter 4

Question 1

**error

Answer 1

It means that there will always be some inaccuracy in our measurements*

Question 2

reliable

Answer 2

Tests that are relatively free of measurement error are considered

Question 3

**Charles Spearman

Answer 3

actually worked out most of the basics of contemporary reliability theory, and published it in 1904 in the American Journal of Psychology.
-Thorndike’s book An Introduction to the Theory of Mental and Social Measurements (1904),

Question 4

bell-shaped

Answer 4

**The distribution of random errors is normal,

Question 5

*Standard error of measurement

Answer 5

is the standard deviation of the error scores (X-T) around the true score (T).

Question 6

Item Response Theory:

Answer 6

An individual receives items on a test such as an IQ test based on previous correct or incorrect items

Question 7

Models of Reliability

Answer 7

Federal government guidelines require that a test be reliable before one can use it to make employment or educational placement decisions*

Question 8

Test reliability is usually estimated in one of three ways:

Answer 8

Test-retest method
Parallel Forms method
Internal Consistency method (half and half with items)

Question 9

Test-Retest Method

Answer 9

Only applies to measures ofstable traits*—but some important things one might measure change over time.
There can be a “carry-over effect”

Question 10

not stable -test retest method

Answer 10

a low correlation between scores on two administrations could mean that the characteristic under study

Question 11

Spearman-Brown formula**

Answer 11

Where r is correlation
r = 2r
1 + r

Question 12

**All measures of internal consistency evaluate

Answer 12

the extent to which the different items on the test measure the same ability or trait (or the same construct-idea)

Question 13

kappa statistic

Answer 13

is the *best method** for estimating interrater reliability-dntk

Question 14

The Kappa statistic indicates

Answer 14

the actual agreement as a proportion of potential agreement following a correction for chance agreement.

Question 15

**Standard Error of Measurement

Answer 15

is an estimate of the degree to which a test provides inaccurate readings

Question 16

**When tests are used to make important decisions about someone’s future,

Answer 16

, evaluators must minimize error.

Question 17

What to do about low reliability

Answer 17

Increase the number of items

Question 18

factor and item analyis.

Answer 18

Sometimes some items don’t actually measure the construct

Question 19

** If a test is not reliable, then one cannot demonstrate that it has any meaning!

Answer 19

There can be no validity without reliability***.