Question

Create a report  with a detailed description explaining how to train the assistants so that they have high inter-rater reliability. Make sure you operationalize aggression before you start to explain your training plan. Be specific about what your research assistants should do to increase the similarity of their rating scores. Submit the reliability training plan for your research assistants.

Research Methods Class

Answer 1

Reliability in psychological research can be defined as the consistency of a psychological inventory or a test, that reveals a similar result over a period of time. For example, if a person scores high on shyness and introvert scale in a personality test, a reliable test is expected to reveal the same scores of the individual, if conducted over a period of time. A good reliable test shows high positive coreelation between its variables. There are various types of reliability. Inter-rather reliability is one of them.Inter rater reliability is a method to access the reliability of the test, which refers to the degree to which different raters give similar estimate of the variable being studied. Inter-rater reliability can be used by testing how different raters categorize similar items in a test and the similarity between the scoring phenomenon of different raters. Inter rater reliability is also called as a inter-observer reliability. One of the major drawback in this kind of reliability is the multiple raters baisness that creeps in while rating a phenomenon. The raters scores, when do not correlate with each other can effect the overall reliability of the test. It can be improved by the following methods. The first is by introducing a training module for the raters.This would observe the similarity or the differences (observation technique) in the categorization and rating of items by different raters, on a particular test. If there is a negative correlation between the ratings of the same test, by different raters, the problem is studied.The other way of improving inter-rater reliability in by ensuring that the behaviour of the raters has been operationalizesd. It is extreamly common for various raters to bring in their sybjectivity while rating the same test. This involves raters baisness. This effects the overall reliability of the test. To avoid this, one must ensure that behavipur categories are objectively defined.For example, two researchers are observing and studying bullying behaviour in children (middle school). The two researchers would have their own subjective ideas of bullying or what it feels to be bullied (due to their own experiences in life). Thus, it is highly likely that they will objectively record and respond objectively to the behaviour of the bully and the reaction of the child being bullied(which would lead to negative correlation beyween variables). Now, 'bullying' is a subjective matter, but making a count of how many times the bullied child cried is an objective and operationized response. This response can be noted by both the researchers as the same (under the category of being bullied), without letting their own personal ideas of bullying effect the ratings of the variable.In a nut shell, I would aid my research assistants to implement the above techniques to have high inter-rater reliability of phenomenon being studied.

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