A generalized expression for the reliability of measures

Abstract

In certain situations it is important to obtain as many measures as possible, all presumably measuring the same function, for each of a group of persons. In general the number and source of the measures may vary from one member of the group to another. We take the mean of the measures for each person as the best estimate of the function for that person. The conventional formulas can not be used to determine the reliability of a set of means so obtained. A formula is developed which provides a unique estimate of the reliability of such a set of means. The formula is more general than some of the well-known reliability formulas, so that these formulas are shown to be special cases of the more general formula.