What term describes differences in results between two or more groups that may be attributed to unreliable instruments?

The term that describes differences in results between two or more groups that can be attributed to unreliable instruments is instrumentation. In research, instrumentation refers to the potential for measurement error or inconsistency in the tools or methods used to collect data. When an instrument is unreliable, it can produce results that do not accurately reflect the true state of what is being measured. As a result, the outcomes for different groups may appear to differ not because of true effects or variations in the phenomenon being studied, but rather due to flaws in how the data was gathered.

For example, if a survey used to assess participant attitudes is poorly designed or inconsistently administered, this could lead to differing results among groups that do not really exist. This challenge emphasizes the importance of using reliable and valid instruments in research to ensure that observed differences are genuine reflections of the variables of interest, rather than artifacts of measurement inconsistency.