Question

Apgar scores are a measurement of an infant’s overall health taken a few minutes after birth. The score ranges from 0 (death) to 10 (perfect health) and is based on tests of the baby’s heart rate, breathing rate, muscle tone, color of skin, etc. A critic gives three reasons why the Apgar score isn’t a perfect measurement:

REASON 1 – There are many other important facets of health that aren’t measured by the score.
REASON 2 – A doctor’s rating may be affected by being present at the birth; often giving unreasonable low values to babies whose

birth was difficult.
REASON 3 – Two different doctors may give different Apgar scores, even when measuring the same baby at the same time.

1. a) Which of these criticisms argues about validity in measurement of the Apgar score? .......................................

2. b) Which one argues about the reliability of the Apgar score? ...................................................................

3. c) Which one argues about the bias of the Apgar score? ................................................................

4. d) Suppose two doctors both judge an infant’s health using the Apgar system and the average of their two values is taken as the “official” Apgar score. Will this improve the validity or reliability or bias of the measurement? Choose just one answer and explain.

Answer 1

a) REASON 1

b)REASON 3

c)REASON 2

d) It will improve the reliability because the average of independent measurements is more reliable than individual values.

It doesn't affect bias and validity.