How do researchers determine reliability in a study? Describe the major types of each.

Reliability and validity in a study

1. Researchers determine reliability in a study by assessing the consistency and stability of the data over time and across different evaluators. The major types of reliability are:

• Test-retest reliability: This measures the consistency of results over time by administering the same test to the same participants at different times.
• Interrater reliability: This measures the consistency of results across different evaluators by having multiple evaluators assess the same data independently.
• Internal consistency reliability: This measures the consistency of results within a test by assessing how closely related the different items on the test are to each other.

2. Researchers determine validity in a study by assessing whether the study is measuring what it claims to measure. The major types of validity are:

• Content validity: This measures whether a study is assessing all the relevant aspects of a concept or construct.
• Criterion validity: This measures whether a study’s results are consistent with established standards or criteria for the concept or construct being measured.
• Construct validity: This measures whether a study is assessing the intended construct or concept, and not something else.

3. In analyzing the reliability and validity section of an assigned article, some strengths and weaknesses can be identified. The strengths of the reliability section can be assessed by examining the sample size, the type of reliability test used, and the consistency of the results. The weaknesses can include incomplete information on how reliability was tested or low reliability scores, indicating inconsistency in the data. For the validity section, strengths can include clear descriptions of how the study measured the concept or construct being studied and high scores on different types of validity tests. The weaknesses can include insufficient information on how validity was tested, or low validity scores, indicating that the study may not be measuring what it claims to measure.