...Reliability In the field of Human Services, especially in the creation of programs, projects and approach strategies, it is important to measure the reliability of approaches and results. The following approaches are more often than not used to test reliability and are therefore the embodiment 'types' of how reliable an approach or strategy tested with them is: 1. Test-retest reliability - The test-retest method estimates the reliability of the test and the results gathered from it by administering the test to the same group of people at least twice over a set period. The results are then correlated and with a high reliability mark, the tests are seen as reliable. 2. Alternate Forms - Two groups are given the test and their scores are correlated. They do not necessarily have to come from the same population (i.e. test in India & test in Bangladesh) as long as there is a certain relationship. The score correlation becomes the reliability guide. 3. Split Half reliability - In terms of tests, half the items relate to the other half and it is the correlation between them in the test results that matter (i.e. half of the test or interview is about health and welfare issues and the other is about the economic state of the interviewee). 4. Inter-rater Reliability - As in contests where there are multiple judges, tests, contests, experiments and research are tested and marked by a set of qualified people. Their average assessment is then seen as reliable...
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...understanding of methodology will facilitate our understanding of basic statistics. Validity A key concept relevant to a discussion of research methodology is that of validity. When an individual asks, "Is this study valid?", they are questioning the validity of at least one aspect of the study. There are four types of validity that can be discussed in relation to research and statistics. Thus, when discussing the validity of a study, one must be specific as to which type of validity is under discussion. Therefore, the answer to the question asked above might be that the study is valid in relation to one type of validity but invalid in relation to another type of validity. Each of the four types of validity will be briefly defined and described below. Be aware that this represents a cursory discussion of the concept of validity. Each type of validity has many threats which can pose a problem in a research study. Examples, but not an exhaustive discussion, of threats to each validity will be provided. For a comprehensive discussion of the four types of validity, the threats associated with each type of validity, and additional validity issues see Cook and Campbell (1979). Statistical Conclusion Validity: Unfortunately, without a background in basic statistics, this type of validity is difficult to understand. According to Cook and Campbell (1979), "statistical conclusion validity refers to inferences about whether it is...
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...Overview of Reliability and Validity Reliability and validity are key concepts in measurement processes. Reliability refers to the stability of a test measure or protocol. It seems to be the way in scientific endeavors that we can take a simple concept and make the concept extremely difficult to comprehend; such is the case with reliability. There are various methods to determine reliability and each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Our purpose here is to try to make since of the various reliability methods. To review, reliability is a measure of the stability or consistency of a test protocol. Measures of reliability are typically reported in terms of Pearson Correlation Coefficients. In brief, these correlation measures range from –1 to 1, with larger values indicating high relationships. Generally, 0.30 is considered minimum to indicate marginal reliability. If you conceptualize consistency as stability over time or stability from item to item then there are different approaches to the measure of reliability. Consistency or stability over time is measured by test – retest reliability. This type of reliability is “in-line” with the traditional view of reliability, and is usually measured by correlation tests given to a group of subjects twice over a tasteful period, during which nothing has happen to your participants to effect their results. Therein lays, the major disadvantage of this method of reliability. Other problems are concerned with...
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...collected in human services research are based on tests. It is very important that these tests are reliable and valid. The following paragraphs will explore reliability, and validity. This paper will also explore data collection methods and data collection instruments that are used in human services research, and managerial research. Types of Reliability Reliability is defined as “the quality or state of being reliable; specifically: the extent to which an experiment, test, or measuring procedure yields the same result on repeated trials” ("Reliability," 2011). There are five types of reliability: alternate-form, internal-consistency, item-to-item, judge-to-judge, and test-retest reliability. Alternate-form reliability is the degree of relatedness of different forms of the same test (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2008). Internal-consistency reliability is how reliable the test is as a whole or how judges score (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2008). Item-to-item reliability and judge-to-judge reliability are almost the same. Item-to-item reliability is the reliability of any single item on average and judge-to-judge is the reliability of any singe judge on average (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2008). Finally test-retest reliability is the degree of stability of a measuring instrument or test (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2008). All types of reliability are used in human services research. It is very important the researcher makes sure that the tests that he or she is using are reliable. For example the...
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...University of Phoenix Material Validity and Reliability Matrix For each of the tests of reliability and validity listed on the matrix, prepare a 50-100-word description of test’s application and under what conditions these types of reliability would be used as well as when it would be inappropriate. Then prepare a 50-100-word description of each test’s strengths and a 50-100-word description of each test’s weaknesses. |TEST of |Application and APPROPRIATENESS |Strengths |Weaknesses | |Reliability | | | | |Internal |“When you want to know if the item on a test assess one, and only one |The imbalance circulation of element correlation or |By using the degree of correlated items to measure,| |Consistency |dimension” (Salkind,N, pg.108). This test would be "used when you want|extreme values of correlations do not alter the |consistency internally is not a correct choice when| | |to know whether the items on a test are consistent with one another” |general factor. The internal arrangement of |the outcome of the test is not one-dimensional. | | |(Salkind,N. 2011 pg110). It would be appropriate to use this...
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...Reliability and Validity During this paper the different types of reliability and validity will be discussed. Reliability and validity will then be applied to the Human Services profession in showing how they apply to the Human Services field. There will be two methods of data collection presented as well as why they are important to this field. Reliability is defined as: “the ability to be relied on or depended on, as for accuracy, honesty, or achievement” (Webster dictionary). The central method that reliability is measured is the test/retest theory. According to Carmine, “The more consistent the results given by repeated measurements, the higher the reliability of the measuring procedure; conversely the less consistent the results, the lower the reliability” (Carmine and Zeller pg 12). For example, a blood pressure machine can be used to test and re-test your blood pressure. When measuring one’s blood pressure repeatedly one will get similar results at that given time. Any measuring appliance is legitimate if it does what it is intended to do by giving consistent results on repeated measurements. Another common way in measuring reliability is by using Cronbach’s Alpha. According to Santos, “Cronbach's Alpha is a numerical coefficient of reliability. Computation of alpha is based on the reliability of a test relative to other tests with same number of items, and measuring the same construct of interest” (Santos, volume 32). Validity is defined as: “the state...
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...Chapter 10: Validity of Research Results in Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research Answers to Review Questions 10.1. What is a confounding variable, and why do confounding variables create problems in research studies? An extraneous variable is a variable that MAY compete with the independent variable in explaining the outcome of a study. A confounding variable (also called a third variable) is a variable that DOES cause a problem because it is empirically related to both the independent and dependent variable. A confounding variable is a type of extraneous variable (it’s the type that we know is a problem, rather than the type that might potentially be a problem). 10.2. Identify and define the four different types of validity that are used to evaluate the inferences made from the results of quantitative studies. 1. Statistical conclusion validity. • Definition: The degree to which one can infer that the independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV) are related and the strength of that relationship. 2. Internal validity. • Definition: The degree to which one can infer that a causal relationship exists between two variables. 3. Construct validity. • Definition: The extent to which a higher-order construct is well represented (i.e., well measured) in a particular research study. 4. External validity. • Definition: The extent to which the study results can be generalized to and across populations of persons, settings, times, outcomes...
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...measures used have test validity. According to Jorge, David, Michael and Siew (2004), test validity is primarily the degree to which a test measures what it purports to measure. There are basically three types of validity including criteria, face and content. It is imperative to ensure that the selection measure used by an organization has all this three measures. This research paper provides an analysis of a situation whereby my organization uses a selection measure that has high criterion validity with low face validity and no content validity. Ethical Concerns Ethical concerns associated with selection measures include fabrication which is considered as one of the primary forms of scientific misconduct. One of the types of fabrication is the use of statistically invalid test measures. According to Heneman, Judge and Kammeyer-Mueller (2012), organizational leaders and managers have an ethical obligation to both potential and exciting employees. It is therefore critical to ensure that any test used in an organization measures what it claims to measure in order to ensure the outcome/findings are not statistically invalid. In this case, the selection measure used by my organization only has criterion validity, significantly low face validity and no content validity thus is statistically invalid. This implies that the test measure has been calibrated against a well known standard thus reflects a certain set of abilities. Content validity in this case shows that the...
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...Reliability and Validity Carmen Kbeir BSHS/382 March 26, 2012 Edessa Jobli Reliability and Validity Researchers employ a wide range of data collection methods to obtain information. Some of these methods are quantitative, such as experiments. Others are qualitative, like field studies. Within each of these methods are specific procedures that lead the researcher to various outcomes. The tools, or instruments, used to measure observations or statistics throughout the process are very important. To understand how well the instruments work and the extent to which the outcomes will produce similar results in the future, researchers examine different types of validity and reliability. Reliability is the extent to which an instrument produces consistent results and the probability that others can achieve the same results when reproducing the study. There are several types of reliability, including alternate-form reliability, internal-consistency reliability, item-to-item or judge-to-judge reliability, and test-retest reliability (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2008). Internal-consistency reliability measures the amount of correlation between items on a test (Darity, 2008). The average correlation between items is indicated by item-to-item reliability. These types of reliability let the researcher know how well the items on a test go together (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2008). A questionnaire or survey is not of much use if the questions on them are completely...
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...PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS INTRODUCTION Psychological tests are the tests that are meant to test the ability of the candidate in psychological manner. Psychological tests are continually adopted these days to select the employees in a business and industrial enterprise. These tests helping the testing ability of the candidate for a particular job, their attitude towards the work method of performance of work, speed of performance work, self expression, efficiency, nature and mental status etc. These tests are proved very useful and helpful in various fields. DEFINITION According to Cronhach, “A test is a systematic procedure for comparing the behaviour off two or more persons.” According to Mursell, “A psychological test is a pattern of stimuli selected and organised to elicit responses which all reveal certain psychological characteristics in the person who takes them.” PURPOSES OF TESTS Psychological tests are used for more than one purpose. They are used for the purpose of: * Selection of candidates for an organisation * Vocational guidance of adults seeking help in their careers. * Guiding and counselling students seeking admission to schools and colleges. * Research into human behaviour and personality Tests are also used for the purpose of making a differential placement or assignment of a person to the job for which he is most suitable, for selecting candidates for promotion and transfer within an organisation, for selecting candidates for assignment to...
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...VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY For the statistical consultant working with social science researchers the estimation of reliability and validity is a task frequently encountered. Measurement issues differ in the social sciences in that they are related to the quantification of abstract, intangible and unobservable constructs. In many instances, then, the meaning of quantities is only inferred. Let us begin by a general description of the paradigm that we are dealing with. Most concepts in the behavioral sciences have meaning within the context of the theory that they are a part of. Each concept, thus, has an operational definition which is governed by the overarching theory. If a concept is involved in the testing of hypothesis to support the theory it has to be measured. So the first decision that the research is faced with is “how shall the concept be measured?” That is the type of measure. At a very broad level the type of measure can be observational, self-report, interview, etc. These types ultimately take shape of a more specific form like observation of ongoing activity, observing video-taped events, self-report measures like questionnaires that can be open-ended or close-ended, Likert-type scales, interviews that are structured, semi-structured or unstructured and open-ended or close-ended. Needless to say, each type of measure has specific types of issues that need to be addressed to make the measurement meaningful, accurate, and efficient. Another...
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...VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY For the statistical consultant working with social science researchers the estimation of reliability and validity is a task frequently encountered. Measurement issues differ in the social sciences in that they are related to the quantification of abstract, intangible and unobservable constructs. In many instances, then, the meaning of quantities is only inferred. Let us begin by a general description of the paradigm that we are dealing with. Most concepts in the behavioral sciences have meaning within the context of the theory that they are a part of. Each concept, thus, has an operational definition which is governed by the overarching theory. If a concept is involved in the testing of hypothesis to support the theory it has to be measured. So the first decision that the research is faced with is “how shall the concept be measured?” That is the type of measure. At a very broad level the type of measure can be observational, self-report, interview, etc. These types ultimately take shape of a more specific form like observation of ongoing activity, observing video-taped events, self-report measures like questionnaires that can be open-ended or close-ended, Likert-type scales, interviews that are structured, semi-structured or unstructured and open-ended or close-ended. Needless to say, each type of measure has specific types of issues that need to be addressed to make the measurement meaningful, accurate, and efficient. Another...
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...Week 6 Discussion 3: Discuss different types of observational and intervention studies, compare the common and different characteristics of different intervention studies, and discuss reliability and validity issues related to intervention studies: Observational (non-experimental) studies are where the investigators are monitoring the relationships between influences and outcomes (Thiese, 2014). The most common types of observational studies include: Correlational Correlational studies determines whether there is a relationship or association between two or more variables (Melynk, Morrison-Beedy, & Cole, 2015). There is no manipulation of any of the variables and the participants are not placed in groups( Polit & Beck, 2014). Data is...
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...BSHS 435 Week 2 Sampling and Data Collection To purchase this visit here: http://mindsblow.us/question_des/BSHS435Week2SamplingandDataCollection/2788 Contact us at: help@mindblows.us BSHS 435 Week 2 Sampling and Data Collection in Research Paper BSHS 435 Week 2 • Student described observation and measurement as they relate to human services research. • Student addressed each of the following points in the paper: o Sampling • What is the purpose of sampling? • How can you avoid bias when selecting samples for human services research? o Data Collection • Describe the scales of measurement used in research • What are the types of reliability? Provide examples of the types of reliability as they apply to human services research or to human services management research. • What are the types of validity? Provide examples of these types of validity as they apply to human services research or to human services management research. • Why is it important to ensure that data collection methods and instruments are both reliable and valid? • What are the advantages and disadvantages of: Telephone surveys Online surveys Focus groups Surveys via websites Which of the above examples of survey research you would like to use if you are collecting data and why? • The paper is 700 to 1,050 words in length. • The introduction provides sufficient background on the topic and previews major points. • The conclusion is logical, flows, and reviews the major points. BSHS 435 Week 2...
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...main theoretical viewpoints of the construct. The purpose of the measure is clearly vital, as it serves the basis for constructing the measure. In this phase, 'keying' is used ? where information is gathered about the 'aspects of the construct on which these groups usually differ'. (An Introduction to Psychological Assessment. Foxcroft and Roodt. P72). e.g. Items are needed to discriminate between individuals, so as to allow the assessor to view the various 'risk' groups. The format and number of each type of item is the next step in the planning phase. The format of the test will vary according to the construct being measured. There are open-ended items (no limits placed on the test-taker), forced-choice items (like multiple-choice, where careful decisions are involved), sentence completion items, essay items (which test for logical thinking and organisational abilities) and performance items (generally apparatus is manipulated by the test-taker). As mentioned previously, the type of construct being...
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