Reliability for the Social Sciences

Theory and Applications

How can social scientists assess the reliability of the measures derived from tests and questionnaires? Through an illustrative review of the principles of classical reliability theory, Ross E Traub explores some general strategies for improving measurement procedures.

Beginning with a presentation of random variables and the expected value of a random variable, the book covers such topics as: the definition of reliability as a coefficient and possible uses of a coefficient; the notion of parallel tests so as to make possible the estimation of a reliability coefficient for a set of measurements; what to do when parallel tests are not available; what factors affect the reliability coefficient; and how to estimate the standard error of measurement. Aimed at giving readers a nontechnical treatment of classical reliability theory, the book also includes end of chapter exercises as well as boxes that give more in-depth coverage of major topics or that provide algebraic proofs.