There are three important types of reliability to look out for in your survey:
Test-retest reliability measures reliability for data that’s not likely to change over time by retesting the same survey at two different times. If the data you have collected is still more or less the same, it is considered reliable.
Internal consistency measures the consistency of responses when multiple questions are asked on the same topic. These tests can help to explain a participant’s opinions on a given topic reliably.
Inter-rater reliability relates most directly to cases where participants are asked to make judgments about something. It measures the level of agreement between multiple raters, judges, or participants (Statology, 2021).
Test-retest reliability is most useful when you have the time and resources to conduct this reliability check. It’s good to use when you ask questions related to personality or other aspects of a participant that you expect to remain the regardless of changes in time. Internal consistency is helpful if you ask the same question worded in multiple different ways. It can help you trust the results you’re analyzing. Finally, inter-rater reliability is useful when you ask participants to make judgments about something, and you expect them to reach a level of consensus about its value. You will learn more about each test on the following pages.
Personal Project
Once you have learned more about these different types of reliability, consider which tests are important for your survey. Consider the questions you have asked and the resources you have at your disposal to determine which reliability checks you should perform. After you have completed these tests, you can move on to learning about validity. Understanding both these concepts will ensure that your data is not only consistent, but also helpful in accurately drawing the conclusions you are hoping for. Then you’ll be ready to analyze your results and hopefully, answer your research questions!
