Perceptions of Stepwise Analysis Stepwise methods can, for some data, correctly identify the best variable set of a given size or correctly rank order variables by importance. However, there is no assurance in a given instance that stepwise methods will do so, and it is not best practice to use gratuitously and unnecessarily methods that can lead to incorrect interpretations. Perceptions of Score Reliability Fourth, the respondents were asked their views regarding score reliability . Indeed, the respondents had neutral views of all four items dealing with score reliability. The APA Task Force recently noted, It is important to remember that a test is not reliable or unreliable.
Reliability is a property of the scores on a test for a particular population of examinees. . . .
Thus, authors should provide reliability coefficients of the scores for the data being analyzed even when the focus of their research is not psychometric. Interpreting the size of observed effects requires an assessment of the reliability of the scores.