In the parallel-forms method, two tests that are equivalent in the sense that they contain the same kinds of items of equal difficulty but not the same items are administered to the same individuals. This technique is also referred to as the method of equivalent forms. We illustrate the computation and interpretation of parallel form…
Reliability measurement in survey situations is more difficult and less easily executed than in observational studies. While it is possible to observe a certain action over and over again, it is usually possible to repeat a survey only once. This leads to a test-retest method, which compares two tests to learn how reliable they are….
Measurement is at the heart of any scientific discipline. The primary function of measurement is to assign numbers to objects or events according to certain rules. It is the process by which empirical data are organized in some systematic relationship to the concept being studied. Bryman identifies three main reasons for the preoccupation with measurement…