Tests of stability reliability, such as test-retest, can reveal random measurement error. Why is systematic measurement error not revealed when stability reliability determinations are made?
a. Actually, reliability testing does not reveal the type of error: differences on test-retest can indicate problems with both random and systematic measurement error.
b. Tests of stability reliability are not powerful enough to pick up systematic measurement error because of its subtlety.
c. If an instrument systematically measures all blood pressures 10 points high, it will do so both at baseline and on retesting.
d. The direction of the systematic measurement error is reversed on retesting, so it is not visible in the statistical analysis.
ANS: C
Stability reliability is concerned with the consistency of repeated measures of the same attribute with the use of the same scale or instrument over time. It is usually referred to as test-retest reliability. This measure of reliability is generally used with physical measures, technological measures, and paper-and-pencil scales. The technique requires an assumption that the factor to be measured remains the same at the two testing times and that any change in the value or score is a consequence of random error.
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