RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT OF OBSERVATION DATA: A POSSIBLE METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEM

Abstract

REID, JOHN B. Reliability Assessment of Observation Data: A Possible Methodological Problem. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1970, 41, 1143-1150. An experiment was conducted to determine the accuracy of observers under 2 conditions: overt reliability assessment, during which O0 knew her accuracy was being checked; and covert reliability assessment, during which she thought that her accuracy could not be checked. A marked drop in accuracy was observed for all Os from overt to covert assessment conditions. Questions were raised concerning the veridicality of observation data which are not continuously monitored.