What is the term for the consistency of a test's results when administered multiple times?

The term for the consistency of a test's results when administered multiple times is test-retest reliability. This concept refers to the stability of test scores over time when the same test is given to the same group of individuals on two different occasions, ideally with a time interval that allows for the evaluation of any changes in performance that are not due to the testing process itself.

High test-retest reliability indicates that the test produces similar results across different administrations, which suggests that the test is measuring a stable trait or ability rather than being influenced by external factors or random variations. This form of reliability is crucial in psychological testing and assessment, as it helps ensure that the scores are dependable and valid, reflecting the true characteristics of the test subjects over time.

While parallel form reliability, internal reliability, and inter-rater reliability are all important concepts in evaluating the reliability of tests, they refer to different aspects. Parallel form reliability assesses the equivalence of different versions of a test, internal reliability examines the consistency of results within the same test, and inter-rater reliability looks at how consistently different raters or judges evaluate the same performance or results. In contrast, test-retest reliability specifically focuses on the temporal stability of the test scores.