Responding To Discussion Post On Reliability Scores

Responding to discussion post on reliability scores

0318: Responding to discussion post on reliability scores

Read the following learner post and respond. Please cite references in APA style.

Paper For Above instruction

Noelle Jacobs discusses the meaning of reliability scores in the context of psychological testing, referencing Cohen, Swerdlik, and Sturman's (2012, 2015) work. The post emphasizes three types of reliability coefficients: internal consistency reliability, alternate forms reliability, and test-retest reliability. Jacobs explains that an internal consistency coefficient of .92 suggests the test is highly reliable internally, comparable to an "A" grade. The alternate forms reliability score of .82, classified as a low "B," indicates that different test forms are mostly consistent with each other but could be affected by sampling errors. The test-retest reliability score of .50 reflects considerable variability over time, which might be acceptable for measures that intentionally fluctuate or less critical assessments. Jacobs rightly notes that the acceptability of these coefficients depends on the purpose and content of the test. For life-saving measures, higher reliability would be essential, whereas for more variable constructs, lower scores might suffice. The post underscores that reliability scores are context-dependent and should be interpreted considering the specific testing scenario. Using Cohen et al.'s framework helps practitioners determine whether a test's reliability is sufficient for its intended application.

References

  • Cohen, R. J., Swerdlik, M. E., & Sturman, E. (2015). Psychological testing and assessment: An introduction to tests and measurement. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Cohen, R. J., Swerdlik, M. E., & Sturman, E. (2012). Psychological testing and assessment: An introduction to tests and measurement. McGraw-Hill.
  • Furr, R. M. (2011). Psychometrics: An introduction. Sage Publications.
  • Hambleton, R. K., & Swaminathan, H. (2015). Validity, reliability, and measurement precision. In R. L. Brennan (Ed.), Educational measurement (pp. 41-66). American Counseling Association.
  • Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
  • Murphy, K. R., & Davidshofer, C. O. (2005). Psychological testing: Principles and applications. Pearson.
  • Matthews, J. N. S., & David, J. (2009). An introduction to behavioural research and data analysis. Sage Publications.
  • American Educational Research Association (AERA), American Psychological Association (APA), & National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME). (2014). Standards for educational and psychological testing. American Educational Research Association.
  • Kaplan, R. M., & Saccuzzo, D. P. (2017). Psychological Testing: Principles, Trends, and Issues. Cengage Learning.
  • DeVellis, R. F. (2016). Scale development: Theory and applications. Sage Publications.

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