title: Effect on measurement error on tests of statistical significance.
abstract: Using the domain-sampling model from classical test theory, the effects of measurement error on statistical tests for the difference between an obtained mean and a hypothesized mean, and the difference between two means, are demonstrated. The results indicate that lowering the reliability (i.e., increasing measurement error) of dependent variable data increases the chance of obtaining a nonsignificant result when a significant result is the correct outcome. Lowering the reliability also produces reduced estimates of strength of association.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach 90822, CA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Charter
mesh_terms: D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D011153:Population; D012107:Research Design; D012494:Sampling Studies