reliability Flashcards
what is the most reliable type of experiment?
lab experiments
why are lab experiments the most reliable?
•they take place in a neutral space under controlled conditions
•follow a standardised procedure
•use of random allocation of participants to conditions
•tend to use a control group as a comparison to the experimental group
•generate quantitative data which is easy to compare and analyse
what is internal reliability?
the extent to which a measure is consistent within itself
what is external reliability?
the extent to which a measure is consistent over time
what is used to measure external reliability?
•the test-retest method
•the same participants are given the same questionnaire at separate time intervals
•if the same result is found per participant then external reliability is established
how is internal reliability tested?
•the split-half method
•the researchers split the test in half and analyses the responses given to the first half of the questionnaire compared to the second half of the questionnaire
•if similar responses are given in both halves then internal reliability is established
how do you improve reliability of experiments?
•ensuring that all aspects of the procedure are controlled and standardised to test the reliability of the method
•ensuring that the IV and the DV are operationalised
•testing participants using conditions which differ slightly from the original procedure to test the reliability of a specific finding
how can you improve the reliability of observations?
by ensuring that behavioural categories are:
•operationalised
•measure only observable behaviour
•are distinct, with no overlapping
how can reliability of a questionnaire be improved?
•running of the test-retest method and excluding any questions which do not show consistency
•running the split-half method and excluding any whole questionnaires that do not show consistency
how can you improve the reliability of interviews?
•using the same interviewer for each separate interview
•using trained interviewers (particularly important for the cognitive interviews)
•ensuring that leading questions or ambiguous, double-barrelled questions are omitted from the questioning
what is test-retest reliability?
a method of assessing the reliability of a questionnaire or psychological test by assessing the same person on two separate occasions. this shows to what extent the test produces the same answers (is consistent or reliable)
how is reliability measured?
•using a correlational analysis
•the correlation coefficient should exceed +.80 for reliability
