Research Methods Upper Sixth- RELIABILITY

Question 1

What is reliability

Answer 1

A measure of consistency, can u get the same results with same experiment consistently

Question 2

What is internal reliability

Answer 2

Consistency within a test so if someone scores high in one half of test they should score high in second half too

Question 3

What is external reliability

Answer 3

Ability to produce same results every time test is carried out

Question 4

How to improve reliability in experiments ?

Answer 4

Standardisation

Take more than one measure to get an average score

Pilot studies to ensure experiment works and any issues can be fixed

Question 5

How can we assess reliability of an experiment

Answer 5

Test retest reliability
- do the test more than once with same ppts and the results should be correlated with first and second test
( shot break before second test so no remembering answers )

For it to be reliable there should be a strong correlation between 2 scores on test

Question 6

How to improve reliability in an observation?

Answer 6

Behavioural catergories - specific behaviour to look for

Pilot studies - to identify poor behavioural categories

Standardisation

Question 7

How can we assess reliability in a observation

Answer 7

Inter rater/ observer reliability

• 2 or more researchers agree on behavioural categories / codes
• then they both independently carry out observation and tally when see behavioural category
• then compare their results and for it to be reliable there should be a 80 percent or more similarity in results
  ( correlation Co efficient of 0.8