Resky Seniawan Gasmin

1552042008

Language Assesment

Search information on test validity and reliability, then make a short review or report.

Answer

Test validity is the extent to which a test (such as a chemical, physical, or scholastic

test) accurately measures what it is supposed to measure. In the fields of psychological testing and

educational testing, validity refers to the degree to which evidence and theory support the

interpretations of test scores entailed by proposed uses of tests. Validity is generally considered the

most important issue in psychological and educational testing because it concerns the meaning

placed on test results.

Reliability refers to how dependably or consistently a test measures a characteristic. If

a person takes the test again, will he or she get a similar test score, or a much different score? A

test that yields similar scores for a person who repeats the test is said to measure a characteristic

reliably. The reliability of a test is indicated by the reliability coefficient. It is denoted by the letter

"r," and is expressed as a number ranging between 0 and 1.00, with r = 0 indicating no reliability,

and r = 1.00 indicating perfect reliability. Do not expect to find a test with perfect reliability.

Generally, you will see the reliability of a test as a decimal, for example, r = .80 or r = .93. The

larger the reliability coefficient, the more repeatable or reliable the test scores. Table 1 serves as a

general guideline for interpreting test reliability. However, do not select or reject a test solely

based on the size of its reliability coefficient. To evaluate a test's reliability, you should consider

the type of test, the type of reliability estimate reported, and the context in which the test will be

used.

It is important to understand the differences between reliability and validity. Validity

will tell you how good a test is for a particular situation; reliability will tell you how trustworthy a

score on that test will be. You cannot draw valid conclusions from a test score unless you are sure

that the test is reliable. Even when a test is reliable, it may not be valid. You should be careful that
any test you select is both reliable and valid for your situation.

Reliability and validity are concepts used to evaluate the quality of research. They

indicate how well a method, technique or test measures something. Reliability is about the

consistency of a measure, and validity is about the accuracy of a measure. It’s important to

consider reliability and validity when you are creating your research design, planning your

methods, and writing up your results, especially in quantitative research.