Test-Retest Reliability,

1. Describe an example of test-retest reliability.

Test-retest reliability is conducting the same test with the same respondents at different moments of time. For example, a group of participants is given a personality test and then are given the same is tested at a later time, maybe a month or year later (Kline, 2005).

2. If the correlation between test scores at Time 1 and Time 2 is 0.85, how would this be interpreted?

The correlation between Time 1 and Time 2 is 0.85 and is significant (0.000); however, if the reliability drops from 0.85 it must be decided if the test needs to be reexamined (Kline, 2005).

3. What are some problems associated with reliability assessed via the test-retest method?

The problem with reliability assessed via test-retest is that it requires the same participants at different times; which makes it difficult to replicate (Kline, 2005). For example, they may be fewer participants. In addition, the longer the delay between tests the greater the possibility of variation in results; as well as, the participants have an opportunity to learn the test the second time around and can create different results (Kline, 2005). Lastly, it is very costly to run consecutive test (Kline, 2005).

4. Under what circumstances is reliability assessed via the test-retest method most appropriate?

I think the best use of test-retest reliability is when measuring the consistency of a test whose results need to be consistent and stable over time, such as intelligence or personality (Kline, 2005).

5. What are the strengths and drawbacks of alternative forms reliability?

The alternative forms of reliability can be an even more costly approach. One of the drawbacks is that the “equality of items” becomes questionable and tha...

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I think the most important thing I learned in this assigned is determining the most effective way to evaluate reliability based on the needs of the study and the time available to complete the project. Reliability is as much part of the study as is finding the answers. Without it, we cannot guarantee that our test set out to capture what it was meant to.

Works Cited

Kline, T. (2005). Psychological testing: A practical approach to design and evaluation. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Snyder, C., Hoza, B., Pelham, W., Rapoff, M., Ware, L., Danovsky, M., Highberger, L., Rubinstein, H., & Stahl, K. (1997). The development and validation of the children's hope scale. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 22(3), 399-421.

Snyder, M. (1974, October). Self-monitoring of expressive behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 30, 526-537.