Reliability of AIDS knowledge scales: conceptual issues. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Reliability of AIDS knowledge scales: conceptual issues.

AIDS Educ Prev. 1992 Winter;4(4):338-44. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/93112502
Zimet GD; Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School; of Medicine, Cleveland, OH.

Abstract: A common approach to evaluating the reliability of AIDS knowledge scales has relied on the demonstration of internal consistency through the use of Kuder-Richardson formula 20 (KR-20) or coefficient alpha. In this study, the argument was made that, in a knowledge-based scale with diverse content (exemplified by AIDS knowledge scales), internal consistency does not make sense conceptually and underestimates the scale's true reliability. It was therefore hypothesized that a split-half approach, in which items in each half were matched for content, would provide superior estimates of reliability when compared to either KR-20 or an odd-even split-half approach. Reliability analyses performed on a knowledge scale developed by the author supported this hypothesis.
Keywords: *Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION & CONTROL Adolescence Adult Child Educational Measurement/METHODS/*STANDARDS Evaluation Studies Health Education/*STANDARDS Human Ohio Questionnaires/*STANDARDS Reproducibility of Results JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/epidemiology/prevention&controladolescenceadultchildeducationalmeasurement/methods/KWDstandardsevaluationstudieshealtheducation/KWDstandardshumanohioquestionnaires/KWDstandardsreproducibilityofresultsjournalarticle
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Copyright © 1993 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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