Research Methods - reliability

Question 1

What is reliability

Answer 1

reliability is the consistency of the results

Question 2

What are the two ways of assessing reliability?

Answer 2

= 1) inter-observer reliability ​ 2) test re-test reliability

Question 3

What inter observer reliability?

Answer 3

=1) 2 psychologists conduct the observation/content analysis/study separately. Then compare answers
2) This checks for agreement, if they find similar results it is reliable, if they do not then it is unreliable
3)This could be done by using a correlation, a strong positive correlation shows that the observers gave similar results, so it has reliability (0.8>)

Question 4

How could we improve inter observer reliability?

Answer 4

= This could be improve through =
Training- give the observer’s better training so they can easily identify the behaviour e.g. teach them what to look for ​

2) Operationalisation​ -make sure both observers are clear on what they are looking for.​ - use the categories of behaviour grid ​

3) View of behaviour- make sure both observers have the same view of the behaviour being observed.​ - Video the behaviour, and let them view the same video of behaviour

Question 5

What is test-retest reliability?

Answer 5

Test-retest reliability is where the results are consistent over 2 occasions

In order to assess test-retest reliability a test would be given to a person on two different occasions and the scores would be compared​

If they find similar results it is reliable, if they do not then the results are not reliable ​

This could be done by using a correlation, a strong positive correlation shows that the test gave similar results on both occasions, so it has reliability.

Question 6

How can we improve test-retest reliability?

Answer 6

Alter the test to improve reliability​

They do this by looking closely at the test and identifying the parts of it that did not correlate well on the two occasions ​

They can then remove those parts to higher the reliability