2: Examining the Test-Retest Reliability of Happiness Score Measure

As you survey the health and self-esteem dataset for Week 6, you will notice one new variable included within the dataset with the name HappyScore2. In order to obtain the HappyScore2 measure, we had the same participants come back five weeks later to fill out the same four-item happiness measure. We then computed their overall happiness score on this measure again. The purpose of having the same participants fill out the same measure a second time was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the happiness measure. If a measure is consistent over time (i.e., has test-retest reliability), then participants should obtain very similar scores on the measure each time it is administered. We can use a Bivariate Correlation in SPSS to test if the happiness measure has strong test-retest reliability. In SPSS, run a correlation between HappyScore and HappyScore2 to examine if the measure has sufficient test-retest reliability. In this case, we are not interested in if the correlation is significant, but rather the overall strength of the correlation coefficient. Specifically, the correlation should be +.70 or above for us to feel confident about the test-retest reliability of the happiness measure used in our survey.

1. Go to Analyze - Correlate - Bivariate…

2. Add the HappyScore and HappyScore2 from the variable list to the Variables: box. Under Correlation Coefficients make sure that Pearson is checked, and under Test of Significance make sure Two-tailed is selected. Under Options… you can choose Means and standard deviations and Cross-product deviations and covariances if you like.

3. Click OK to run the correlation.

4. Use the Pearson correlation output to answer Question #1 on your Assignment 6 written response worksheet.

QUESTION 1

Based on the correlation coefficient between happiness score at time 1 and time 2, does the happiness measure appear to have sufficient test-retest reliability? In your response, report the Pearson r, and explain the criteria you used to make your determination.

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