Question at position 3 Janice read an article online about a test that determined intelligence by measuring the sizeand shape of an individual’s skull which it claims to achieve consistent results. Because shehas taken psychology, Janice states that although the test may have Question Blank 1 of 2[input] (reliability orvalidity), it lacks Question Blank 2 of 2[input] (reliability or validity).

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Question at position 3 Janice read an article online about a test that determined intelligence by measuring the sizeand shape of an individual’s skull which it claims to achieve consistent results. Because shehas taken psychology, Janice states that although the test may have Question Blank 1 of 2[input] (reliability orvalidity), it lacks Question Blank 2 of 2[input] (reliability or validity).

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

This question asks you to fill in two blanks regarding a test that uses the size and shape of the skull to claim it determines intelligence, and whether the test has reliability or validity.
First, consider what each term means in psychology: reliability refers to the consistency of a test’s results—if you administer the test again under the same conditions, you should get similar results. Validity, on the other hand, refers to whether the test actually measures what it claims to measure or predicts what it should predict.
Now let's apply these definitions to the scenario. The article claims the test determines intelligence by skull measurements and that it “achieves consistent results.” The phrase about consistency directly points to reliability: a test that yields stable, repeatable results is described as reliable. Therefore, the first blank should be reliability, because the emphasis is on consistency of results rather than on whether it truly measures intelligence.
Next, Janice notes that although the test may have reliability (i.e., be consistent), it lacks validity. This aligns with the critique that even if a test produces consistent results, it does not necessarily measure the intended construct—intelligence in this case. In fact, measuring intelligence via skull size is not considered a valid measure of intelligence in modern psychology, as skull size or shape is not a demonstrated indicator of cognitive ability. Thus, the second blank should be validity, reflecting the idea that the test is not valid even if it is reliable.
To summarize the reasoning for each blank:
- Blank 1: reliability. The statement about “consistent results” is a hallmark of reliability, not validity.
- Blank 2: validity. The passage implies the test fails to measure intelligence accurately, so it lacks validity.
Common misconceptions to avoid: confusing reliability with validity, or assuming that a test’s accuracy is guaranteed by its consistency. Remember, a test can be reliable (consistent) but not valid (not measuring the intended construct).
In practical terms, this illustrates a classic test critique: a method might be repeatable, but if it doesn’t actually assess the intended attribute (intelligence, in this case), it lacks validity, undermining its usefulness as a measurement tool.

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