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EBP Ch.11 M8
Principles of Measurement
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Construct validity | Extent to which an instrument or test measures an intended hypothetical concept or construct |
Content validity | Extent to which an instrument or test measures an intended content area |
Continuous variable | Variable that takes on an infinite number of different values presented on a continuum |
Criterion-related validity | Extent to which an instrument or test measures a particular concept compared with a criterion |
Cronbach's Alpha (coefficient alpha) | Widely used index of the extent to which a measuring instrument is internally stable |
Dichotomous variable | A nominal variable that consists of 2 categories |
Instrument | A device, piece of equipment, or paper-pencil test that measures a concept or variable of interest |
Interval level of measurement | Level of measurement characterized by a constant unit of measurement or equal distances between points on a scale |
Measurement | The assignment of numerical values to concepts according to well-defined rules |
Nominal level of measurement | Lowest level of measurement, which consists of assignments numbers as labels for categories. These numbers have no numerical interpretation |
Operational definition | A definition that assigns meaning to a variable and the terms or procedures by which the variable is to be measured |
Ordinal level of measurement | Level of measurement that yields rank-ordered data |
Predictive validity | The ability to predict future events, behaviors, or outcomes |
Psychometric evaluation | Evaluating properties of reliability and validity in relation to instruments being used to measure a particular concept or construct |
Ratio level of measurement | Highest level of measurement, characterized by equal distances between scores having an absolute zero point |
Reliability | Value that refers to the consistency with which an instrument or test measures a particular concept. Different ways of assessing reliability include test-retest, internal consistency, and interrater |
Test-retest reliability | An approach to reliability examining the extent to which scores are consistent over time |
Validity | Value that refers to the accuracy with which an instrument or test measures what it is supposed to measure. Different types of validity include content, criterion, and construct |