Linda is taking an intelligence test. During the test, the teachers walk through the halls and chat loudly with each other. Due to these distractions, Linda scores lower on the test than she would have if she had been able to concentrate fully. The influence of the teachers' chatting is an example of
A) reliability.
B) a validity bias.
C) a cohort effect.
D) measurement error.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The influence of the teachers' chatting on Linda's test score is an example of measurement error, as it introduces variability into the test results that is not related to what the test is supposed to measure (Linda's intelligence). This external noise affected Linda's ability to perform and thus her score does not accurately reflect her true abilities.

Linda Is Taking an Intelligence Test