Lesson 6.

Techniques in Testing Reliability of Assessment Method:

Split – half and Internal Consistency Methods

Split – Half Method

Split – half method is a measure of internal consistency. How well the test
components contribute to the construct that’s being measured. It is simply a test for a single
knowledge area and split into two parts and both parts are given to a large group of students
(ideally about 30) at the same time.

Splitting the test into two parts could be done randomly. For example, separate the
even numbered question from the odd numbered questions and score each half of the test
for each student as illustrated below. (Or, alternatively, easy and difficult items should be
equally distributed in two halves.)

Test

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6
Half 2
Half 1 And so on
Question 2
Question 1
Question 4
Question 3
Question 6
Question 5
And so on
And so on

Illustration. Consider the results of 6 students, in a 40 – item test that is divided into two
halves and each half consisting of 20 items. (Hypothetical data)

Student Scores Ranks Difference

Half 1 Half 2 Rank 1 Rank 2 D D2

A 14 13 4 5 1 1

B 12 10 6 6 0 0

C 13 14 5 3.5 1.5 2.5

D 18 18 1 1 0 0

E 15 14 3 3.5 0.5 0.25

 F 17 16 2 2 0 0.0

N=6 ∑D2 = 3.5

The computation for the correlation coefficient for the two halves makes use of the
spearman rho correlation coefficient formula.

rs = rht = 1-

Where rht is the half test reliability.

rht =

= 1-.21
rht = 0.79

The correlation value of the half test rht = 0.79 indicates high reliability.

The reliability of the whole test is calculated using the Spearman – Brown formula, as
follows:

rwt =

Where rwt is the reliability of the whole test, and

rht is the reliability of the half test

Thus:
rwt =

=
rwt = 0.88 (high relationship)

The reliability of the whole test of 0.88 indicates high relationship. This means the
reliability of the whole test is high.

Internal Consistency Method

Internal consistency method is a method of reliability in which we judge how well the items
on a test that are proposed to measure the same construct or idea produce the same result. If all
items on a test measures the same construct or idea, then the test shows internal consistency
reliability.
 This method is also used in psychology test that consists of dichotomous (a division into two
opposite groups) scored items. The examinee either pass or fail in an item where a correct response
is assigned a rating 1 and an incorrect response 0.

The Kuder Richardson Formula 20 is the statistical technique used considering that this generates a
correlation of between zero and one. Formula is:

rxx =[ ][ ]

Where rxx = correlation coefficient

N = number of items
SD2 = variance
∑piqi = the sum of the product of pi and qi, where
pi = proportion of passing item i
qi = proportion of failing item I, and qi = 1 – pi

Consider Table 6.1 below of a 5 – item test administered to 5 students using the Kuder Richardson
Formula 20, for illustration purposes.

Table 6.1

Items Students f pi qi piqi

1 2 3 4 5

1 0 1 1 1 0 3 0.6 0.4 0.24

2 1 1 1 1 1 5 1.0 0 0

3 1 1 1 1 1 5 1.0 0 0

4 0 1 1 1 1 4 0.8 0.2 0.16

5 0 1 1 1 0 3 0.6 0.4 0.24

TOTAL 2 5 5 5 3 ∑piqi = 0.64

(Legend: 1 – correct answer; 0 – incorrect answer)

Computation for pi & qi:

P1 = = 0.6 q1 = 1 – 0.6 = 0.4

P2 = = 1.0 q2 = 1 – 1.0 = 0

P3 = = 1.0 q3 = 1 – 1.0 = 0

P4 = = 0.8 q4 = 1 – 0.8 = 0.2

P5 = = 0.6 q5 = 1 – 0.6 = 0.4

Computation for variance, SD2
̅
SD2 =

Compute first for the mean, ̅ . See Table 6.2 below

̅=

Table 6.2

Student Score (x) - ) - )²

1 2 -2 4

2 5 1 1

3 5 1 1

4 5 1 1

5 3 -1 1

N=5 ∑x = 20 ̅ =8
̅
The variance, SD2 =

= =2

Computing for the correlation coefficient value

rxx =[ ][ ]

=[ ][ ]

=[ ] [ ] = 0.85

The reliability coefficient of 0.85 indicates a high relationship. Thus this means that the test is highly
reliable.
Additional Readings:

Techniques in Testing Assessment Methods: Split Half Method and Internal Consistency Method

SPLIT- HALF METHOD

INTERNAL CONSISTENCY METHOD