It has often been asserted that the reliability of a measure places an upper limit on its validity. This article demonstrates in theory that validity can rise when reliability declines, even when validity evidence is a correlation with an acceptable criterion. Whether empirical examples can actually be found is an open question. (SLD)

Modified equations for the validity and reliability of difference scores that describe applied testing situations are examined. This examination reveals that simple gain scores can be more useful in research than has commonly been believed. Simple gain scores are neither inherently unreliable nor lack predictive validity. (SLD)

Used various suggestive techniques in repeated interviews with preschool children to elicit narratives about true and fictional events. Found that fictional narratives contained more spontaneous details, more elaborations, and more aggressive details than true narratives. Across retellings, false narratives were less consistent but contained more…

Examined peer-reviewed research on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) and tobacco cessation and prevention. Results found growing evidence for the TTM's validity as applied to tobacco use, though the evidence was inconclusive. Eight different staging mechanisms were identified, raising the question of which are most valid and reliable. Interventions…

Examines the validity and reliability of focus group methodology from three perspectives: radical-hermeneutic, moderate interpretive, and realistic. Describes a survey of researchers in four European projects using focus groups and describes the strengths and weaknesses of the method. (Contains 48 references.) (SK)

Evidence for the internal consistency-reliability and construct validity of scores on the 6 dimensions of the Dimensions of Self-Concept Scale was provided through results from 107 registered nurses. Confirmatory maximum likelihood factor analyses indicated that a six-factor oblique model accounted for the greatest proportion of the covariance.…

Explores the asymptotic theory of a method of nonparametric item characteristic curve estimation based on kernel smoothing with the theory of obtaining the proper linear ordering of examinees with respect to their true latent abilities. Results support the usefulness of estimates of the type produced by the TESTGRAF program. (SLD)

Evaluated the reliability of scores from the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT; J. Sounders and others, 1993) in a reliability generalization study based on 17 empirical journal articles. Results show AUDIT scores to be generally reliable for basic assessment. (SLD)

Proposes an analytic approach to standard error and confidence interval estimation of scale reliability with fixed congeneric measures. The method is based on a generally applicable estimator stability evaluation procedure, the delta method. The approach, which combines wide-spread point estimation of composite reliability in behavioral scale…

Examined the psychometric properties of a French version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC; C. Spielberger and others, 1973), administered to 288 French Canadian children in intermediate grades. Findings show that the STAIC is psychometrically sound. (SLD)

Developed an Italian version of the Self-Description Questionnaire (SDQ-III) and studied the reliability and factorial validity of this translated instrument. Results show that the translated version has psychometric properties similar to those of the original English version. (SLD)

Suggests three main characteristics middle school students can look for when deciding whether a Web site has reliable information. Encourages students to "Think APE": Author, Purpose, and Expiration date. Presents an annotated list of eight Web sites to help build Web literacy. (SG)

Examined the psychometric properties of the Couple and Family Therapy Alliance Scales (IPAS), two theoretically derived and systemically based measures of the therapeutic alliance. Couple and family clients (N=66) completed the scales and the Session Evaluation Questionnaire immediately following an early-to-mid treatment interview. Descriptive…

Briefly outlines problems associated with definition and official certification of suicide and reviews literature pertaining to validity and reliability of suicide statistics. Considers process of suicide certification as a test, estimating its sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value, using data from studies reviewed. (NB)

The unconditional--simultaneous--maximum likelihood (UML) estimation procedure for the one-parameter logistic model produces biased estimators. The UML method is inconsistent and is not a good alternative to conditional maximum likelihood method, at least with small numbers of items. The minimum Chi-square estimation procedure produces unbiased…