Reliability in the context of assessments refers to which two aspects?

Reliability in assessments is fundamentally about the consistency and accuracy of the measurement results. Consistency refers to the degree to which an assessment produces stable and repeatable outcomes across time, different conditions, and various populations. For example, when an assessment is applied multiple times to the same individual under similar conditions, reliable assessments will yield similar results each time.

Accuracy, on the other hand, relates to how close the assessment results are to the true value or intended measurement. An assessment can be consistent but not accurate if it consistently measures something incorrectly. Therefore, both consistency and accuracy are critical components for establishing reliability, as they ensure that the data collected from assessments can be trusted and used effectively in occupational therapy practice.