Reliability

Question 1

Define reliability.

Answer 1

The extent to which a measure is consistent.

Question 2

How can reliability of observations be assessed?

Answer 2

Inter-observer reliability. Assessed using correlational stats test. .8 or above suggests good inter-observer reliability.

Question 3

How can the reliability of observations be improved?

Answer 3

Behavioural categories agreed by observers. Mutually exclusive, clear, objective, unambiguous.
Pilot study.

Question 4

How can the reliability of self-report techniques be assessed (2 ways)?

Answer 4

Test-retest. Give same test to same group of people with a period of time in-between. Correlational test is used.
Inter-interviewer reliability.

Question 5

How can the reliability of self-report techniques be improved?

Answer 5

Reduce the ambiguity of questions - clear and no room for interpretation.

Question 6

What does reliability refer to in an experiment?

Answer 6

Whether the method used to measure the DV is consistent.

Question 7

How can the reliability of experiments be improved?

Answer 7

Standardised procedures. Identical procedures for all participants to allow comparison.