Which of the following statements about reliability and validity is most likely to be true?

• A. Reliability and validity mean exactly the same thing in research.
• B. If a test is valid, it must also be unreliable.
• C. A test cannot be valid unless it is unreliable.
• D. A test can be reliable without being valid.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definitions of reliability and validity in psychological research. Reliability refers to the consistency or stability of a measurement over time, while validity refers to whether the test measures what it is intended to measure.
2. Step 2: Recognize that reliability and validity are related but distinct concepts. A test can be consistent (reliable) without accurately measuring the intended construct (valid).
3. Step 3: Analyze the given statements by comparing them to these definitions. For example, the statement 'Reliability and validity mean exactly the same thing' is incorrect because they represent different qualities of a test.
4. Step 4: Consider the logical relationships: a test must be reliable to be valid, but being reliable does not guarantee validity. Therefore, statements claiming a test cannot be valid unless it is unreliable are false.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the statement 'A test can be reliable without being valid' is most likely true because a test can consistently measure something irrelevant or incorrect, showing reliability without validity.