Scales
Ordinal Scale
A scale of measurement on which the categories have different names and are organized sequentially (for example, first, second, third).
Parallel-forms Realiabity
The type of reliability established by comparing scores obtained by using two alternate versions of a measuring instrument to measure the same individuals and calculating a correlation between the two sets of scores.
Construct validity
The type of validity demonstrated when scores obtained from a measurement behave exactly the same as the variable itself. Construct validity is based on many research studies and grows gradually as each new study contributes more evidence.
Negative Relationship
relationship in which the two variables or measurements tend to change together in opposite directions.
Nominal Scale
A scale of measurement in which the categories represent qualitative differences in the variable being measured. The categories have different names but are not related to each other in any systematic way.
Test-retest Realiabity
The type of reliability established by comparing the scores obtained from two successive measurements of the same individuals and calculating a correlation between the two sets of scores.
Predictive Validty
The type of validity demonstrated when scores obtained from a measure accurately predict behavior according to a theory.
Positive Relationship
relationship in which the two variables or measurements tend to change together in same directions.
Scale of Measurement
The set of categories used for classification of individuals. The four types of measurement scales are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.
Realiabity
The degree of stability or consistency of measurements. If the same individuals are measured under the same conditions, a reliable measurement procedure will produce identical (or nearly identical) measurements.
Cocurrent Validty
The type of validity demonstrated when scores obtained from a new measure are directly related to scores obtained from a more established measure of the same variable
Operational Definition
is a procedure for indirectly measuring and defining a variable that cannot be observed or measured directly
Split- Half Realiabity
A measure of reliability obtained by splitting the items on a questionnaire or test in half, computing a separate score for each half, and then measuring the degree of consistency between the two scores for a group of participants.
Divergent Validty
type of validity demonstrated by using two different methods to measure two different constructs. Convergent validity then must be shown for each of the two constructs. Finally, there should be little or no relationship between the scores obtained for the two different constructs when they are measured by the same method.
Face Validity
An unscientific form of validity that concerns whether a measure superficially appears to measure what it claims to measure.
Constructs
are hypothetical attributes or mechanisms that help explain and predict behavior in a theory.
Inter-rate Realiabity
The degree of agreement between two observers who simultaneously record measurements of a behavior.
Convergent Validity
The type of validity demonstrated by a strong relationship between the scores obtained from two different methods of measuring the same construct.
Validity
The degree to which the measurement process measures the variable it claims to measure
Theory
is a set of statements about the mechanisms underlying a particular behavior.