A research assistant is entering data into a data set on individual attitudes regarding social issues. He did not get enough sleep the night before and occasionally enters the wrong code for some individuals. This is an example of ______.
A) systematic error
B) random error
C) validity
D) reliability

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The researcher's occasional mistakes are random errors, as they are not consistently biased in any one direction. Systematic errors are consistent biases in the data collection process that affect all data points, such as using a faulty measuring instrument. Validity refers to how accurately the data measures what it is intended to measure, while reliability refers to the consistency and stability of the data over time and across different data collectors.

A Research Assistant Is Entering Data into a Data Set