INRS 7311 Learning Unit 7 Validity , Reliability , Trustworthiness and Ethics Theme 1 : Validity , Reliability and Trustworthiness in Research

Question 1

Explain reliability in the context of quantitative research about 7 marks

Answer 1

• Linked to the findings of research
• Ability to produce same results using same method/instruments = reliable
• Can be loosely defined as being able to generalise results if research is repeated .
• Different types of reliability
• Interrator :different participants and same methods used
• Test/retest : Same participants and method at different times
• Parallel : Different method and/or participants at the same time
• Split halves : Different participants , same method .

Question 2

Explain the concept of validity in the context of quantitative research . 5 marks

Answer 2

• Refers to whether or not the research measure what it was meant to .
• Do the findings reflect whats happening in the current situation ?
• Different types of validity : content/sampling validity , face validity , construct validity , criterion/instrumental validity .

Question 3

Distinguish between internal and external validity . 6 marks

Answer 3

• Internal validity : Deals with research method and design . Can they answer the research question at hand ? Also applies to the small errors that occur within the margin or error of the research .
• External validity : Focuses on the ability to be able to generalise the research findings to the larger population . Is the researcher confident that if the research method/design is repeated on the whole population that the results would be replicated .

Question 4

Explain trustworthiness and its dimensions in relation to qualitative research . 8 -10 marks .

Answer 4

*Qualitative research aims to increase understanding , therefore reliability and validity aren’t used in the same way as quantitative .
*They are combined into the broad term “trustworthiness” , which has four components
1\Credibility : The accuracy of the interpretation of the data by the researcher . Improved by spending time with the participants , belief from the participants , and use of triangulation .
2\Transferability : Ability of the findings to be applied in a similar situation and deliver similar results .
3\Dependability : The quality of the process of integration between data collection method , analysis and theory .
4\ Confirmabiity : How well the data collected supports findings/interpretation of the researcher .