Help Needed

Respond to classmate posts in a minimum of 175 words: 

H.A. Post

Reliability is more of the consistency of the test where as validity is more of the accuracy aspect of it. They plan hand in hand as with out consistent answers they will not prove to be accurate or valid. "The concept of validity refers to evidence that supports the use of an assessment instrument for specific purposes" (Drummond, Sheperis, & Jones, 2016). A person who added to this discussion previously mentioned "When working with our clients, especially when doing assessments, it is important to make sure that it is reliable and it has validity in order to take the right action". Learning about assessments and intakes in my current workplace as it is helping me along in this class, this could not be more true.

When reading statistical tests it is important to know and understand the interrelation between reliability and validity and how they play hand in hand. It is wise when administering tests for an issue that you want to measure such as depression or anxiety to ensure that each person has a diagnosis of either one and a group to compare them to such as those with out to figure out certain functions. This will also provide validity or accuracy for your testing and results thereof.

Drummond, R. J., Sheperis, C., & Jones, K. D. (2016). Assessment procedures for counselors and helping professionals. Boston: Pearson.

D.DV. Post

I was not certain how top word my point of view in explaining my understanding the connection between reliability and validity. The first thing that comes to mind in choosing a measurement, is focusing on a characteristic a counselor may be trying to measure. Characteristic meaning the clients expressed problem. The counselor may want to use a measure that is proven to provide accurate scores for a specific characteristic. The connection between reliability and validity within the measures used to assess a client depend on the characteristics a counselor wishes to measure and the findings of that measure regarding the questionability of error. Measurement reliability might help with focusing on a test that is characteristic specific; in which the test may help the counselor better understand the person’s problems. The literature mentions the DSM has gone through some changes, “The motivation for this change was primarily to increase the reliability of diagnoses” (Pomeroy, 2014, p. 2).

Pomeroy, E. (2014). The clinical assessment workbook: Balancing strengths and differential diagnosis (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.