How can a test be reliable and not valid? Provide an example. Why is a test not

Question

How can a test be reliable and not valid? Provide an example. Why is a test not valid unless it is reliable? In general terms, describe what a test would be like if it were reliable but not valid. Now, do the same for a test that is valid but not reliable. When testing any experimental hypothesi, why is it important that the test you use to measure the outcome be both reliable and valid? Describe the steps that you would take to establish the construct validity of an observational paper-and-pencil test that assesses "thinking outside the box."

Explanation / Answer

A test can be reliable but still not be valid because the reliability of a test involves yielding results that are consisted. Whereas validity refers to the tests ability to measure what it was designed to measure. So, you can yield consistent results on a test and it still may not be measuring what you had designed for it to measure. On the other hand, a test cannot be valid unless it is reliable.

If a test were reliable but not valid, one would get the same result each time they took the test. However, if the test is not valid, then it is not really assessing what the test was created to assess. For example, say you have an assessment of leadership qualities, but the items on the test are more related to the type of leader you would prefer. In this case, your results would be reliable each time you took the test but would not be valid since it is not assessing your leadership qualities.

Validity and reliability are essential when testing the experimental hypothesis. If it is not valid or reliable, your hypothesis will be completely unconnected to your experiment and will not be an accurate measure of what you are trying to assess.

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