Which term refers to the consistency of results a test produces over time?

The term that refers to the consistency of results a test produces over time is reliability. In psychometrics, reliability is a key measure that indicates how stable and dependable a test's outcomes are across multiple administrations. If a test is reliable, it will yield the same results upon repeated applications under similar conditions, reflecting its ability to measure a construct consistently.

Reliability encompasses several forms, such as test-retest reliability, which assesses the consistency of results when the same test is given to the same subjects at different times. Consistency assures that any variations in score can be attributed to real changes in the underlying attribute being measured rather than random error or incongruity in the test itself.

In contrast, validity assesses whether a test accurately measures what it intends to measure, without addressing the consistency of those measurements over time. Precision generally refers to the degree of exactness in a measurement, which, while related to reliability, does not directly define the stability of test scores. Bias represents systematic errors that can skew test results but does not pertain to the consistency of those results. Thus, reliability is the most appropriate term to describe the consistency of results over time.