Question

________ is the extent to which a scale produces consistent results if repeated measurements are made on the characteristic.

• A. Validity
• B. Generalizability
• C. Reliability
• D. None of these

Hint:

Reliability = repeatability; Validity = accuracy. A measure must be reliable to be valid, but a reliable measure can still be invalid.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Recall the definition.
A measurement scale is reliable when it yields consistent results upon repeated applications under similar conditions (stability and internal consistency).
Step 2: Distinguish from related terms.
- Validity = accuracy/truthfulness (does the scale measure what it should?).
- Generalizability = extent to which findings hold across populations/contexts (a property of study design/inference, not the scale’s repeatability).
Step 3: Eliminate wrong options.
(a) Validity focuses on correctness, not repeatability.
(b) Generalizability is about external validity, not consistency.
(d) Not needed because (c) precisely matches “consistent results on repetition.” \[ \boxed{(c)} \]