RELIABLITY AND VALIDTY OF RESEARCH DESIGNS AND METHODS

RELIABLITY AND VALIDTY OF RESEARCH DESIGNS AND METHODS

Introduction

Reliability and validity are important features of measurement procedures used in various research studies. Reliability and validity of research procedures and methodologies help determine the accuracy, meaningfulness and usefulness of the findings of a research (Healy & Perry 2000). It is therefore important for all research designs and methods to be reliable and valid so as to enable them to be acceptable and accurate in addressing a given research problem.  This essay discuses the concept of reliability and validity in various research designs and methods.

Reliability

Reliability can be defined as the consistency of a measure in research that enables it to give significant and similar results when exposed to further research under the same conditions (Healy & Perry 2000).  A test can be termed as reliable if it is able to generate the same results repeatedly. For example, if a test is conducted to investigate the characteristics consumer behaviours, subsequent test on the same phenomenon under the same conditions should be able to give the same results.

Reliability is an important concept in research since it helps reinforce research findings so as to be acceptable by the wider community. Reliability enables researchers to determine if a research conducted is actually evidenced. This ensures that the hypothesis of the research study is found to be significant.  Reliability also allows a research study to come up with appropriate correlations, patterns and trends so as to help prove that the findings are scientifically evidenced.

Validity

Validity can be defined as the extent to which a study measures accurately the concepts that a researcher intends to measure (Healy & Perry 2000). Validity is mainly concerned with the success of study in measuring what the researcher intends to measure.  For example, when a researcher conducted a test to find out the academic performance of students, then the test will be valid if the findings relate to scores of students in schools.

Validity is important since it helps to analyze the meaningfulness, appropriateness and usefulness of a study.  It ensures that the study addresses the research questions hence make it credible. If the research study is not valid then the study will be insignificant since it will fail to address the research questions which are the basis of research study.

Reliability and Validity of Correlation Research Designs

In order to maintain reliability of a correlation research design, the sample being analysed must be large enough to be representative. The variables must also be viewed in their natural settings so that it becomes easier to establish cause effect relationships. This necessitates the effectiveness of the correlation coefficient that is obtained.

In order to maintain validity of the correlation research design, there should be no loss of samples or participants in the course of the study. This means that the internal characteristics of the study must be maintained from start to finish. The researcher in a correlation study must also avoid the use of causality factors. The researcher must also devise strategies of addressing issues to do with reverse and reciprocal causation. This is because they alter the validity of the entire exercise due to their influences on independent and dependent variables.

Reliability and Validity in Descriptive Research Design

Descriptive research describes characteristics of a chosen population and aims at answering the ‘why’ question. In order to maintain the reliability of such a research design the subjects must be observed in their natural environments. This would ensure there is consistency in the observations or measurements made.  Reliability in descriptive research is concerned with the ability of the researcher to give similar observations provided the research is conducted under similar conditions (Scandura & Williams 2000). The concept of reliability in descriptive research ensures that the results obtained are not biased but reflect the real situation.

Validity of descriptive research design is maintained if the results from the study can be generalized outside the context of the current study. This means that the results got would be similar if the study is conducted on a different population, situation or setting (Salkind & Rainwater, 2000). This is an indication of external validity of the research design. For internal validity to be maintained the threats posed by extraneous or confounding variables must be contained.

Reliability and Validity of Cross Sectional Study

Reliability of cross sectional study demonstrates the degree to which the observations obtained from a group of variable represented at a given time relates to characteristics of the entire population that is under a research study at any given time (Long & Johnson, 2000). It can also be used to illustrate that the observations obtained from a cross sectional study can remain the same over a longer period of time and is related to the characteristics of the entire population within a given period of time.  For example, if a textile industry is found to be affected by agricultural produce during a three years period, then other studies conducted in different periods should also come to the same agreement that textile industry is affected by agricultural production.

Validity of a cross sectional study on the other hand shows that the observation obtained from the study addressees accurately the research questions (Creswell, 2012). It helps to prove that the results of the cross sectional study are relevant to the topic of the study and addresses the research questions appropriately. For example, if the cross sectional study was about the impact of motivation on performance of employees, then the results should be related to motivation and performance of a group of employees.

Reliability and Validity of Experiments

The reliability of an experiment is important since it ensures that results obtained from the experiment are similar to other results obtained from the same experiments under similar circumstances. Reliability of the experiments will also ensures that the same results will be obtained if further experiments are conducted under similar circumstances (Nelson et al 2000). For example, if an experiment comes up with the finding that disease X is caused by virus Y, then further studies should also come up with similar results.

Validity of experiment can be ascertained under the circumstances that the results of the research address the specific research questions. This makes the experiment to be relevant and acceptable by the wider community. For example, if the experiment was aimed at determining the causes of malaria in human beings, then the result should include causes of malaria in human beings.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that the accuracy and appropriateness of research findings is determined by the reliability and validity of data. Research methods and designs should therefore observe the concepts of reliability and validity so as to be meaningful and acceptable to the wider community. Correlation, descriptive, experimental and cross sectional research study designs are important techniques that can be used to understand various given phenomenon under a study. In order for these research designs to be accepted by the general public, they have to be well designed and observe the concepts of reliability and validity. This can ensure that the research study provides valuable and new knowledge that can facilitate a better understanding of a given phenomenon.

Bibliography

Creswell, J. W., 2012, Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five

approaches. Sage

Healy, M., & Perry, C., 2000, Comprehensive criteria to judge validity and reliability of

qualitative research within the realism paradigm, Qualitative market research: An international journal, 3(3), 118-126.

Long, T., & Johnson, M., 2000, Rigour, reliability and validity in qualitative research. Clinical

effectiveness in nursing, 4(1), 30-37.

Nelson, D. E., Holtzman, D., Bolen, J., Stanwyck, C. A., & Mack, K. A., 2000, Reliability and

validity of measures from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Sozial-und Praventivmedizin, 46, S3-42

Salkind, N. J., & Rainwater, T., 2000, Exploring research, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice

Hall.

Scandura, T. A., & Williams, E. A., 2000, Research methodology in management: Current

practices, trends, and implications for future research. Academy of Management journal, 43(6), 1248-1264.

 

 

 

 

Last Completed Projects