When test reliability is high, the standard error of measurement is ___________.a.Averageb.Highc.Lowd.Moderate

When discussing test reliability and the standard error of measurement (SEM), it’s important to understand the relationship between the two.

High test reliability means that a test yields consistent results over repeated applications. This consistency directly impacts the SEM, which quantifies the degree of error associated with an individual test score.

1. Understanding Standard Error of Measurement (SEM): SEM is an index of the amount of error in test scores. A lower SEM indicates that a test is more dependable and that individual test scores are closer to the true score.

2. Relationship Between Reliability and SEM: The SEM can be calculated using the formula: $SEM = SD \sqrt{1 - r}$ where $SD$ is the standard deviation of the test scores, and $r$ is the reliability coefficient. As the reliability coefficient ($r$) approaches 1 (indicating high reliability), the term $(1 - r)$ approaches 0. This leads to a smaller SEM.

Final Answer

When test reliability is high, the standard error of measurement is c. Low.

This indicates that with high reliability, individual scores on the test are more stable and close to the true score, resulting in less measurement error.