It is important to determine the validity and reliability of the research instruments when reading a research study. How does the validity and reliability of an instrument influence the credibility of the study and the value of the evidence?
When carrying out research, one must make sure that the value of the evidence used in the study should remain high, and that the overall level of study credibility should be high. Particularly, the data that holds the moderate-to-great degree of value can be deemed as appropriate for using it in a study. Herein lies the significance of determining the validity and credibility of the research instruments, which help retrieve the necessary data.
The choice of the instruments determines the type of information that will be obtained for further analysis to a considerable degree, yet it does not necessarily provide the opportunities or receiving the data of the required quality. For instance, the use of questionnaires allows for retrieving a plethora of quantitative information, yet the inconsistent directions provided to the respondents may jeopardize the accuracy of their answers and, thus, reduce the data quality The validity and reliability of the instrument can be deemed as very low in the identified scenario. Furthermore, the specified qualities of the instrument affect the validity and credibility of the information, making the levels thereof very low (Mertens, 2014).
Therefore, there is a direct correlation between the validity and reliability of the research instrument, the value of the obtained evidence, and the credibility of the further research results. Consequently, the enhancement of the instrument used for the collection of the necessary data will allow for a rapid rise in the credibility of the study and the value of the information obtained in the process. For example, by improving the scoring process and making it easier to calculate the statistical information retrieved in the process, one is likely to avoid a range of errors and, thus, improve the validity and credibility of the research outcomes (Grove, Gray, & Burns, 2014).
What characteristics should be appraised when evaluating qualitative and quantitative research design? Which characteristics are the most important and why?
When considering both qualitative and quantitative studies, one must consider the choice of the method used as the foundation for the study. The well-justified and appropriate use of methodology can be deemed as the characteristic worth appraising. Particularly, the successful usage of the proper research method will ultimately lead to the accurate representation of the research results and, therefore, improve the research results significantly.
Furthermore, the importance of the appropriate sampling strategy needs to be borne in mind. During a study, every population must be represented properly. The sampling strategies, in turn, have their advantages and disadvantages, therefore, making the chances for misrepresentation of a particular population rather high. Thus, the sampling approach can be considered another essential characteristic of research that will determine its results.
Finally, the technique used for the data analysis is a crucial factor that defines the outcomes of the research. As long as the means of analyzing the available data is chosen reasonably, the outcomes of a study will be accurate and useful for further application or a follow-up study. Therefore, for both qualitative and quantitative studies, a careful choice of a data analysis tool is essential (Best, 2014).
Conducting immaculate research is barely a possibility due to the limitations of research methods. However, by identifying the crucial characteristics of the study and creating the environment in which its validity will rise, one will be able to carry out a successful analysis. Thus, the premise for a significant improvement in the chosen area will be created.
References
Best, S. (2014). Understanding and doing successful research: Data collection and analysis for the social sciences. New York, NY: Routledge.
Grove, S. K., Gray, J. R., & Burns, N. (2014). Understanding nursing research: Building an evidence-based practice (6th ed.). New York, NY: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Mertens, D. M. (2014). Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods (4th ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.