Reliability and Validity Paper
Reliability and Validity Paper
Markesha Norfleet
Oct. 29, 2012
BSHS/382
Angela Colistra
Reliability and Validity Paper In human services profession there are a large amount of data that are collected and analyzed to make decisions regarding what is in the best interest of each individual. The majority of the data that is collected in the human services research are based on the tests. The research and test is conducted to provide the most effective program possible to help individuals. The testing methods should be reliable and valid. Reliability and validity must be consistent and specific. In this paper it will discuss the types of reliability and validity and provide examples of how each can be applied to the human services research. Also, this paper will discuss the methods of gathering data in the human services and why it is important for these methods to have reliability and validity.
Reliability
Reliability is referred to as the quality or state of being reliable; specifically: the extent to which an experiment, test, or measuring procedure yields the same result on repeated trials (Reliability., 2012). It is the consistency of a measure. A test is reliable if the results are repeated (Cherry, 2010). For a test to be reliable, the results must be approximately the same each time it is administered. It does not matter why a test is being given but it matters if the results are reliable and accurate. However, it is impossible to determine the exact reliability, but it can be estimated in a number of different ways (Cherry, 2010). There are several different types of reliability. They are item-to-item, judge-to-judge, internal-consistency, alternate-form, and test-retest reliability. Item-to-item reliability and judge-to-judge reliability are almost the same. Item-to-item reliability is the reliability of any single item on average and judge-to-judge is the reliability of any single judge on average (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2008).
Markesha Norfleet
Oct. 29, 2012
BSHS/382
Angela Colistra
Reliability and Validity Paper In human services profession there are a large amount of data that are collected and analyzed to make decisions regarding what is in the best interest of each individual. The majority of the data that is collected in the human services research are based on the tests. The research and test is conducted to provide the most effective program possible to help individuals. The testing methods should be reliable and valid. Reliability and validity must be consistent and specific. In this paper it will discuss the types of reliability and validity and provide examples of how each can be applied to the human services research. Also, this paper will discuss the methods of gathering data in the human services and why it is important for these methods to have reliability and validity.
Reliability
Reliability is referred to as the quality or state of being reliable; specifically: the extent to which an experiment, test, or measuring procedure yields the same result on repeated trials (Reliability., 2012). It is the consistency of a measure. A test is reliable if the results are repeated (Cherry, 2010). For a test to be reliable, the results must be approximately the same each time it is administered. It does not matter why a test is being given but it matters if the results are reliable and accurate. However, it is impossible to determine the exact reliability, but it can be estimated in a number of different ways (Cherry, 2010). There are several different types of reliability. They are item-to-item, judge-to-judge, internal-consistency, alternate-form, and test-retest reliability. Item-to-item reliability and judge-to-judge reliability are almost the same. Item-to-item reliability is the reliability of any single item on average and judge-to-judge is the reliability of any single judge on average (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2008).
References: Cherry, K. (2010). Reliability and Validity. Retrieved from http://www.psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm Reliability. (2012). Retrieved from In Webster 's Third New International Dictionary.: http://www.mwu.eb.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/mwu Rosnow, R. L., & Rosenthal, R. (2008). Beginning behavioral research: A conceptual primer (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.