Estimation of Transient Error in Cognitive Ability Scales

In response to Schmidt, Le, and Ilies' (2003) call for further assessment of transient error variance in measures of key individual difference variables, the current study examines transient error estimates for eight speeded cognitive ability scales and a composite scale. One hundred twenty‐three participants were tested on two occasions with a 1‐week interval between administrations. Estimates of transient error ranged from a low of .01 to a high of .18, with an average value of .09. The coefficient of equivalence, based on the split‐half method, resulted in overestimates of reliability by as little as 1.90% to as much as 25.96%, with an average 12.96%.