Definition of test-retest reliability?

Definition of test-retest reliability?

• A. An instrument gets the same results when given twice or more to the same child within a short time period
• B. It measures how well the instrument predicts future performance
• C. It assesses internal consistency across items
• D. It compares the instrument to another established measure

Answer: (A)

Test-retest reliability is about score stability over time. The core idea is that if you administer the same instrument to the same child on two occasions within a short period, and nothing about the child or the measured trait has changed, the results should be very similar. When the scores are consistent across administrations, the test is considered reliable in terms of stability over time. The statement that the instrument yields the same results on repeated administrations captures this stability directly. Other choices describe different psychometric properties: predicting future performance refers to predictive validity, internal consistency across items refers to how well items measure the same construct (often via inter-item correlations or Cronbach’s alpha), and comparing the instrument to an established measure refers to criterion validity or concurrent validity.

Test-retest reliability is about score stability over time. The core idea is that if you administer the same instrument to the same child on two occasions within a short period, and nothing about the child or the measured trait has changed, the results should be very similar. When the scores are consistent across administrations, the test is considered reliable in terms of stability over time.

The statement that the instrument yields the same results on repeated administrations captures this stability directly. Other choices describe different psychometric properties: predicting future performance refers to predictive validity, internal consistency across items refers to how well items measure the same construct (often via inter-item correlations or Cronbach’s alpha), and comparing the instrument to an established measure refers to criterion validity or concurrent validity.