The term sensitivity of measurement refers to
A) the number of scale points (such as 5, 7, or 9) on a numerical rating scale.
B) the ability of a measure to detect small differences in the level of a variable.
C) the extent to which a question asks about highly personal issues.
D) the ability of a measure to elicit accurate responses.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The term sensitivity of measurement refers to the ability of a measure to detect small differences in the level of a variable. A highly sensitive measure can detect even small changes in the variable being measured, while a less sensitive measure may only be able to detect larger changes. The number of scale points on a rating scale (A) is important in terms of the precision of measurement, but not sensitivity. Highly personal issues (C) relate to the sensitivity of the topic being measured, not the sensitivity of the measurement itself. The ability of a measure to elicit accurate responses (D) is related to validity, but not sensitivity.

The Term Sensitivity of Measurement Refers to