What action should be taken if IOA is low?

When Interobserver Agreement (IOA) is low, it indicates that there is a significant discrepancy in how different observers are recording the same behavior or event. This inconsistency can undermine the reliability of the data being collected, thus it is essential to investigate and address the training of the observers.

Reassessing observer training is a critical step because it helps to identify whether observers have a clear understanding of the definitions and criteria for the behavior being measured. Inadequate training may lead to variations in how observations are interpreted, resulting in lower agreement among observers. By providing additional training or clarification on the assessment techniques, observers can become more aligned in their data collection practices. This leads to more accurate and reliable data, allowing for better decision-making based on the results.

In contrast, other potential actions, such as ignoring the results, changing the measurement tool, or increasing data collection frequency, do not address the root cause of the disagreement. Ignoring the results would render the data meaningless, changing the tool without addressing observer differences does not guarantee improved consistency, and simply increasing the frequency of data collection may lead to more discrepancies rather than resolving the initial issue. Therefore, focusing on reassessing observer training directly targets the source of the low IOA.