Factors Affecting Interpretation of Reliability Coefficients

Leslie Russek

DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2004.0797

It is now well understood that to make effective decisions based on patient data physical therapists need to know the psychometric properties of the clinical measurements they use. What may not be as well understood is that the calculation of various reliability coefficients often reported in the literature are not all based on the same statistical concepts. This technical note explores how variability among subjects affects interpretation of various reliability coefficients and how different coefficients, used with the same data, can lead to paradoxical interpretation.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2004; 34(6):341-349. doi:10.2519/jospt.2004.0797

Key Words: reliability coefficients, psychometric properties, clinical measurements

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