validity and reliability in research methodology

Reliability refers to how consistent and stable your research results are, and how well they can be replicated by other researchers. 1171).Īt this point, the library doesn’t have staff with expertise to recommend or evaluate tests. Validity refers to how well your research measures what it intends to measure, and how accurately it reflects the reality of the phenomenon you are studying. Even if a test is generally considered to be “valid,” it might not be applicable to the particular group, behavior, or situation you are trying to study (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2004, p.

However, as the Sage Encyclopedia also explains, validity not only depends on the instrument itself, but how you use the instrument. Validity and reliability information can sometimes be found in the Mental Measurements Yearbook and other resources listed in this guide. Table 1 Types of validity The first category is content validity. Researchers often discuss the “validity” of tests, rather than whether tests are “good” or “bad.” According to the Sage Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods, validity is “the extent to which any measuring instrument measures what it is intended to measure.” Validity is an important indication of whether a test will be useful. Research methodology is judged for rigor and strength based on validity, and reliability of a research Morris & Burkett, 2011. How do you know whether you've found a “good” or “bad” test? Is the test well-designed? Research validity in surveys relates to the extent at which the survey measures right elements that need to be measured.

Validity and reliability in research methodology