Describe one of the following three ways to assess reliability of a | Nursing research
One way to assess the reliability of a research instrument is by using test-retest reliability. This involves administering the same measure on two separate occasions with an interval period in between, and then comparing the results obtained. If there is a high degree of consistency between these two sets of data then it can be assumed that the instrument is reliable in measuring what it intended to measure.
To assess for this type of instrument reliability in a published research study, one should firstly look at how long the interval was between each measurement administration. Generally speaking, shorter intervals tend to be more accurate as they allow for less opportunities for any changes or influences to affect people’s responses . Additionally , one should also look at whether or not appropriate statistical tests such as correlation were used when analyzing any similarities or differences observed . Finally , researchers should provide evidence of how their findings correlate with those from other similar studies so as to further demonstrate that their instruments are indeed reliable.