If a parent questions the reliability of a test because two administrations yielded very different scores, which concept is at issue?

• A. Reliability
• B. Standardization
• C. Usability
• D. Validity

Answer: (A)

Reliability is about the consistency of test scores across repeated administrations. When a parent notes that two separate test sessions produced very different results, the issue is the test’s stability—whether random error is influencing the scores from one administration to the next. A reliable test yields similar results for the same person under similar conditions, so large score swings signal low reliability (often called test-retest reliability).

Standardization is about ensuring the test is administered and scored in a uniform way, which supports reliable results but isn’t the same thing as reliability itself. Usability refers to how practical or easy the test is to administer. Validity concerns whether the test actually measures what it is intended to measure; variability in scores across administrations doesn’t by itself determine validity.