What term refers to the consistency of a measure and its dependability?

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure and its dependability over time and across different contexts. In social work and research, reliability is critical because it ensures that the findings can be trusted and are reproducible. A reliable measure yields the same results under consistent conditions, indicating that it reflects the true data consistently rather than being influenced by random errors or variables.

Validity, on the other hand, concerns whether a measure accurately assesses what it is intended to measure, which is a different concept. Generality is not a standard term used in this context, as it typically relates to the applicability of findings across different populations or contexts. Dependability, while similar in meaning to reliability, is not the term widely used in research literature; reliability is the established terminology for this concept. Thus, reliability is the appropriate and correct term for describing the consistency and dependability of a measure.