Which term describes the degree to which repeated measurements show the same result?

Which term describes the degree to which repeated measurements show the same result?

• A. Accuracy
• B. Precision
• C. Validity
• D. Reliability

Answer: (B)

The main idea is precision. Precision describes how consistently repeated measurements cluster together, showing that the measurement process yields the same result each time under the same conditions. If you measure the same dimension multiple times and get values that are all very close to each other, you’ve got high precision. It’s useful to contrast with accuracy: you can be precise (consistent results) but not accurate (not close to the true value) if there’s a systematic bias. Reliability also relates to consistency across trials or raters, but precision specifically targets the closeness of repeated measurements. Validity is about whether you’re measuring the right thing.

The main idea is precision. Precision describes how consistently repeated measurements cluster together, showing that the measurement process yields the same result each time under the same conditions. If you measure the same dimension multiple times and get values that are all very close to each other, you’ve got high precision.

It’s useful to contrast with accuracy: you can be precise (consistent results) but not accurate (not close to the true value) if there’s a systematic bias. Reliability also relates to consistency across trials or raters, but precision specifically targets the closeness of repeated measurements. Validity is about whether you’re measuring the right thing.