What term describes the consistency of a measure in assessing a characteristic?

The term that describes the consistency of a measure in assessing a characteristic is reliability. Reliability refers to the degree to which an assessment tool produces stable and consistent results over time. For example, if a particular test is administered multiple times under the same conditions, a reliable measure would yield similar results each time. This consistency is crucial in psychological testing and research, as it ensures that the findings are dependable and not due to random variation.

On the other hand, validity refers to the extent to which a measure accurately reflects what it is intended to assess, such as whether a test truly measures intelligence rather than simply reflecting socioeconomic status. Correlation is used to determine the relationship between two variables but does not address consistency. Experimentation involves testing hypotheses under controlled conditions, but it does not specifically relate to the stability of a measure. Therefore, reliability is the key concept that focuses on the consistency of a measure.