topic 5: reliability Flashcards
define reliability
the extent to which if the research was repeated it would produce similar or identical results
positivism on reliability
quantitative methods are higher in reliability
why might quantitative methods be high in reliability?
— more structure, EASIER TO REPEAT
— more likely to OPERATIONALISE clearly, resulting in being easier to repeat and get similar results
— creates STANDARDISED data in stats form, results are more likely to be similar
why may qualitative methods be low in reliability?
— LACK OF STRUCTURE (difficult to repeat)
— DATA NEEDS INTERPRETATION (highly subjective and vulnerable to bias)
— LONG TIME: difficult to give up years to replicate lengthy observations e.g. venkatesh