Question

If you had a dataset of test scores where the range of scores was substantially restricted, which estimate of reliability would be affected (assuming the data could in principle yield statistics on all reliability estimates)?

A) Cronbach's alpha
B) Inter-rater reliability
C) Test-retest reliability
D) Split-half reliability

Answer 1

Cronbach's alpha, a measure of internal consistency, would be affected by a restricted range of test scores as it might overestimate reliability.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a dataset of test scores has a substantially restricted range, the estimate of reliability that would be affected is Cronbach's alpha. Cronbach's alpha is a measure of internal consistency, which is how closely related a set of items are as a group. When the range of scores is restricted, there is less variance for Cronbach's alpha to account for, possibly inflating the reliability estimate. This could lead to an overestimation of the actual reliability of the test scores. Other types of reliability such as inter-rater, test-retest, and split-half reliability are less likely to be affected by the restricted range of scores.