What type of reliability is assessed when testing the consistency of responses to differently worded items in a questionnaire?

The correct focus is on internal reliability, which refers to the consistency of responses across different items within a test or questionnaire. When assessing internal reliability, researchers look at how closely related the various items are that measure the same underlying construct. If different questions that are designed to evaluate the same concept yield similar responses from participants, it indicates that the measurement is internally reliable.

In the context of a questionnaire, if the items are worded differently but aim to understand the same trait or attitude, a high level of agreement among responses suggests that the internal reliability is strong. This can be evaluated using methods like Cronbach's alpha, which provides a numerical estimate of how well the different items measure the same theoretical construct.

Other types of reliability mentioned don't apply in this context; interrater reliability assesses the agreement between different observers or raters, test-retest reliability evaluates the stability of responses over time, and content validity pertains to whether the items on the test adequately cover the content they are meant to measure. Each serves a distinct purpose in research design and analysis, highlighting the importance of using the correct type of reliability when evaluating the quality of a measurement tool.