Understanding Reliability
and Validity in
Psychological Testing
AN OVERVIEW
Definition of reliability and validity
Introduction Importance in psychological assessment
Real-world examples
Why Reliability • Psychological assessments impact hiring,
education, and mental health
and Validity • Without reliability and validity, test results
Matter can be misleading
• Consistency and stability in
Definition of measurement
Reliability • Ensures test results remain the same
over time
The • Measures the strength of the relationship
between test scores
Correlation • Higher coefficients indicate greater
Coefficient reliability
Interpreting • 0.90+ = Excellent reliability
Reliability • 0.80-0.89 = Good
Coefficients • 0.70-0.79 = Acceptable
• Test construction errors
Sources of Error • Environmental factors
Variance • Examinee-related errors
• Scorer and administration errors
Test-Retest Reliability
• Measures consistency over time
• Example: IQ test scores taken twice should be similar
Parallel-Forms Reliability
• Compares different versions of the same test
• Example: SAT Form A vs. SAT Form B
Internal Consistency
• Measures how well test items relate to each other
• Cronbach’s alpha (α) and split-half reliability
Inter-Rater Reliability
• Ensures consistency between different raters
• Example: Scoring of essay exams
Using and • What is considered an acceptable
Interpreting reliability value?
Reliability • Different standards for clinical vs.
educational testing
Coefficients
Reliability and • Impact of reliability on interpretation
Individual • Standard error of measurement (SEM)
and confidence intervals
Scores
Definition of • The accuracy and meaningfulness of test
results
Validity • A test must be valid to be useful
• Does the test appear to measure what it
claims?
Face Validity • Example: A depression questionnaire
should ask about mood, not math skills
• Do test items cover the full range of the
Content concept?
Validity • Example: A final exam must cover all
course topics
Criterion- • Measures how well a test predicts future
performance or relates to another test
Related • Example: SAT scores predicting college
Validity GPA
• Predictive: Test predicts future outcomes
Predictive vs. (e.g., GRE scores predicting grad school
success)
Concurrent • Concurrent: Test correlates with current
Validity outcomes (e.g., employment screening
tests)
• Does the test measure the psychological
Construct concept it claims to?
Validity • Example: Intelligence tests should
measure intelligence, not just vocabulary
Content- • How experts evaluate test content
Description • Example: Developing achievement
tests with subject matter experts
Procedures
Criterion- • Examining whether test scores
correlate with performance
Prediction • Example: Job performance tests and
Procedures actual work performance
Construct- • Factor analysis in psychological tests
Identification • Examples: Intelligence testing,
personality assessments
Procedures
How to Ensure
• Conduct pilot testing
• Use expert reviews
Validity • Revise and refine test items
Reliability vs. • Can a test be reliable but not valid? Yes
Validity • Can a test be valid but not reliable? No
• A bathroom scale that always gives
Why Reliability the wrong weight is reliable but not
Alone is Not valid
• A test must be accurate, not just
Enough
consistent
Ensuring Both • Multiple test revisions
Reliability and • Using statistical analysis to validate
measures
Validity
Sample of A
Test with High
Validity but
Low Reliability
• A PERSONALITY TEST PREDICTS
JOB PERFORMANCE WELL BUT HAS
INCONSISTENT SCORES OVER TIME
Sample of A Test with
High Reliability but Low
Validity
• A MATH TEST WHERE ALL QUESTIONS FOCUS ON MULTIPLICATION BUT
IGNORES OTHER MATH SKILLS
How Exam
• Standardized procedures
Boards Ensure • Psychometric analysis
High Reliability • Continuous test updates
and Validity
1. What does a high Cronbach’s alpha
Multiple- indicate?
2. What is an example of predictive
Choice
validity?
Questions 3. What is the relationship between
reliability and validity?
Common Pitfalls in Interpreting
Reliability & Validity
• Confusing reliability with accuracy
• Assuming all standardized tests are valid
Discussion Prompt:
Why Do Some Tests
Fail?
• FACTORS LIKE CULTURAL BIAS, POOR TEST DESIGN, AND
LACK OF PILOT TESTING
Improving
Reliability and • Strategies: Better test design, pilot
Validity in Test testing, statistical analysis
Construction
Key Takeaways
• Reliability = Consistency, Validity = Accuracy
• Both are essential for quality psychological assessments
Final Thoughts
• How to critically evaluate test quality
• Why understanding these concepts is crucial for psychologists
