Validity Reliability
Validity Reliability
They are important thus the results reflect the real variations between
populations and timeframes as accurately as possible.
Shouldbe considered during the early stages and throughout data collection.
Choose appropriate methods of measurement
High quality and appropriate measurement technique to measure exactly what suppose
to be measured accurately.
If a new questionnaire is developed, it should be:
Based on previously established theory or study findings
Carefully and precisely worded.
Use appropriate sampling methods to select the subjects
Select sufficient, appropriate, and representative population and clearly
define it including age, location, gender and socioeconomic status.
Enhancing validity and reliability
4
Validity
A device/scale accurately producing values correspond to the actual
properties, characteristics, and variations of the element being measured.
1. The accuracy of a method to quantify a measurement
2. The method must measure what it alleges/intends to measure
Exmp: A thermometer should accurately measure temperatures. It is not valid if:
It dosnt measure temp
It gives inaccurate measurement.
Exmp: A scale should accurately measure pain NOT QOL in LBP patients
Reliability vs. validity
8
Reliability vs. validity
9
Test-retest reliability
The consistency of a scale across time: getting the same results when the
measurements repeated overtime
The ability of a tool to get the same score of cognitive function repeatedly
overtime (e.g. after 1 day, 2 weeks, and 3 months).
Interrater reliability
The consistency of a measure across testers: getting the same scores when
the measurement is conducted by different testers
It is to assess the lab technician consistency
Reliability: Types and assessments
11
Internal consistency
The consistency of the measurement itself: the correlation between scores
of different parts of a scale.
Finding a correlation (ICCC) between the scores of randomly selected items
of a questionnaire designed to measure self-esteem
It is to assess the device/scale consistency
Validity: Types and assessments
12
Construct
Testing a scale/device against the “theory” upon which the scale was
constructed or based on
i.e. testing the device against the theory
Content
Ability of an instrument to reflect/represent all aspects/domains of the
instrument
Exmp: a statistics teacher attempts to check the overall student knowledge in
Criterion
Testing a newly-developed instrument against another valid instrument
Exmp: comparing BP score using a smart watch versus the conventional method
Exmp: ability of a survey to predict election results.
To assess the validity of a cause-and-effect relationship, you also need to
consider internal validity (the design of the experiment) and external validity
(the generalizability of the results).
Face
If the test “appears” (at face value) to measure what it claims to.
The least sophisticated of all validity types.
Exmp: asking people to rate the accuracy of a newly-developed weighing scale
as it appears to them using Likert scale (strongly agree, agree, disagree
strongly disagree)