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reliability
reliability When sociologists enquire as to the reliability of data, or of a measurement procedure, they are questioning whether the same results would be produced if the research procedure were to be repeated. Reliability embraces two principal forms of repetition: temporal reliability (the same result is obtained when the measurement is repeated at a later time); and comparative reliability (the same result is obtained when two different forms of a test are used, the same test is applied by different researchers, or the same test is applied to two different samples taken from the same population). Reliability raises many technical problems for the sociologist. For example, having once interviewed someone, a repeat interview may be contaminated by the earlier experience.
Reliability is usually contrasted with validity—whether or not a measurement procedure actually measures what the researcher supposes it does. However the two are not perfectly independent. One may have a highly reliable measure which is not valid: for example, we might measure IQ by standing subjects on a weighing machine and reading off the numbers, an extremely reliable procedure in both senses; but body-weight is hardly a valid indicator of IQ. A highly unreliable measure, on the other hand, cannot be valid. See also VARIABLE. |
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GORDON MARSHALL. "reliability." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. GORDON MARSHALL. "reliability." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-reliability.html GORDON MARSHALL. "reliability." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-reliability.html |
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reliability
reliability The accounting principle that the financial information provided by a company should have the characteristics of faithful representation, neutrality, completeness, freedom from material error, and caution when prepared in uncertain conditions. The concept is defined in the Accounting Standards Board's Statement of Principles and in Financial Reporting Standard 18, Accounting Policies.
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"reliability." A Dictionary of Business and Management. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "reliability." A Dictionary of Business and Management. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O18-reliability.html "reliability." A Dictionary of Business and Management. 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O18-reliability.html |
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reliability
reliability
1. The ability of a computer system to perform its required functions for a given period of time. It is often quoted in terms of percentage of uptime, but may be more usefully expressed as MTBF (mean time between failures). See also hardware reliability, repair time. 2. of software. See software reliability. |
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JOHN DAINTITH. "reliability." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN DAINTITH. "reliability." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-reliability.html JOHN DAINTITH. "reliability." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-reliability.html |
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reliability
reliability n. the ability of an item to perform a required function under stated conditions for a specified period of time.
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"reliability." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "reliability." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-reliability.html "reliability." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-reliability.html |
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