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Reliability as Argument
Author(s) -
Parkes Jay
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
educational measurement: issues and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.158
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1745-3992
pISSN - 0731-1745
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-3992.2007.00103.x
Subject(s) - argument (complex analysis) , reliability (semiconductor) , conflation , value (mathematics) , epistemology , computer science , sociology , positive economics , mathematics , philosophy , statistics , economics , physics , biochemistry , quantum mechanics , chemistry , power (physics)
Reliability consists of both important social and scientific values and methods for evidencing those values, though in practice methods are often conflated with the values. With the two distinctly understood, a reliability argument can be made that articulates the particular reliability values most relevant to the particular measurement situation and then the most appropriate evidence and theory to support an argument for the presence of that value. The steps in making a reliability argument are explained and an extended example is given. The article is intended to provoke discussion, debate, and the development of additional reliability methodologies.