If a test yields highly similar results when administered to the same individuals on multiple occasions, what attribute is being demonstrated?

If a test yields highly similar results when administered to the same individuals on multiple occasions, what attribute is being demonstrated?

• A. The test's internal validity
• B. The test's external validity
• C. Reliability
• D. Design quality

Answer: (C)

Reliability means a measurement is stable and consistent across repeated administrations. When you give the same test to the same individuals on different occasions and the results are highly similar, you’re observing high test-retest reliability, indicating the instrument consistently measures whatever it intends to measure. This is about consistency over time, not about whether the test actually measures the intended attribute (that’s validity). Internal validity and external validity pertain to study design and generalizability, not the stability of test scores across occasions. Design quality isn’t the specific psychometric property at issue here. So the best answer is reliability.

Reliability means a measurement is stable and consistent across repeated administrations. When you give the same test to the same individuals on different occasions and the results are highly similar, you’re observing high test-retest reliability, indicating the instrument consistently measures whatever it intends to measure. This is about consistency over time, not about whether the test actually measures the intended attribute (that’s validity). Internal validity and external validity pertain to study design and generalizability, not the stability of test scores across occasions. Design quality isn’t the specific psychometric property at issue here. So the best answer is reliability.