RRV Flashcards
What is reliability?
The extent to which. were the same study to be repeated, it would produce the same results.
What are the three things that a reliable method should be?
Consistent - the questions should mean the same thing to every participant.
Precise - the questions should be standardised (every participant should be asked the exact same questions).
Repeatable - another researcher should be able to carry out the research and gain similar results.
What type of methods produce reliable data?
- For data to be reliable it needs to be quantitative.
- Methods such as questionnaires, structured interviews , and experiments tend to have a high reliability because they are easy to replicate due to being standardised and consistent.
What does reliability ensure and why is it important?
- Ensures data can be accurately compared and contrasted (spot patterns).
- Reliability is important because if researchers repeat the research and the result is different, they need to be sure what they are studying has genuinely changed and not just their original method was not reliable.
What is representativeness?
The extent to which a sample mirrors a researcher’s target population and reflects its characteristics.
What can impact representativeness?
Impacted by the sampling technique the researcher uses.
What is validity?
The ability of a method to measure what it sets out to measure.
When is research valid?
- Research is valid if it provides a true picture of what is really “out there” in the world.
- The more in depth the research, the fuller picture we get of the thoughts and feelings of the individuals acting, so more valid the data.
In which type of data will validity lack in?
In more quantitative research, such as social surveys, validity may be lacking because the researcher has decided on what questions should be answered by respondents, rather than letting the respondents decide on what they want to say for themselves, as it typically the case with more qualitative methods.
