Standardized Testing Validity

Research findings are considered reliable if they are consistent over a period of time and they accurately represent the total population under evaluation or study (McMillan, 2016; Golafshani, 2013). Moreover, the findings of a research study are considered reliable if they can be reproduced using similar methodology. In this regard, replication and consistency are the two characteristics that determine the reliability of any given research tool or test. Validity establishes if the research study actually measures what it was initially intended to measure (McMillan, 2016). In this regard, validity of a research is determined by how accurate the measurement tool is in measuring what it was intended to establish. Therefore, the quality of research is determined by its reliability and validity. The validity and reliability of any

Test-retest entails giving the test to the same students over a period of time (Carmines & Zeller, 2009). In this case, the reliability will be established if the results from the students are consistent. Obtaining similar results on both occasions with high and positive reliability coefficient is an indicator that the data is reliable. The other criteria that I would use to determine reliability of the data is splitting the results into two halves, and then correlate the results on each half. In this care, reliability of the results would be established if the score on both halves demonstrate a high correlation. Another approach that I would use to ascertain the quality of reliability is the alternative form method, which involves subjecting another test to the same students. These tests should be redesigned to measure the same thing, to minimize the influence of the student’s memory on performance of the test (Carmines & Zeller,