Professor Myth asked respondents whether or not they had ever been divorced. One year later Professor Myth asked respondents the same question. Myth found that with repeated applications of the measure different responses were obtained for the same subject. This means that the measuring instrument was
A) unreliable.
B) invalid.
C) unreliable or the value on the variable had changed.
D) lacking in face validity.

Question

Professor Myth asked respondents whether or not they had ever been divorced. One year later Professor Myth asked respondents the same question. Myth found that with repeated applications of the measure different responses were obtained for the same subject. This means that the measuring instrument was​
A) ​unreliable.
B) ​invalid.
C) ​unreliable or the value on the variable had changed.
D) ​lacking in face validity.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The measuring instrument is considered unreliable or the value on the variable had changed because the same respondents provided different answers to the same question over time. This indicates either inconsistency in the measurement (unreliability) or a change in the respondents' marital status (change in the value on the variable).

Professor Myth Asked Respondents Whether or Not They Had Ever