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Reliability and validity are two important concepts in statistics. These are used to evaluate the research quality. Both these concepts imply how well a technique, method or test measures some aspect of the research. While reliability deals with consistency of the measure, validity deals with accuracy of the measure.
In a research design, especially in a quantitative research, reliability and validity are highly important. These two concepts are very closely related, although their meanings are different. The differences between the two are very subtle. In a research, a measurement can be reliable but not necessarily be valid, however, if a measurement is valid, then it is considered to be reliable.
Reliability of a technique, method, tool or research instrument implies how consistent it measures something. If by using the same technique or methods, same outcome is consistently achieved under similar circumstances, then the measurement is said to be reliable. For example, if a thermometer displays same temperature of a same liquid sample under identical conditions, then the results can be considered as reliable. Thus, it can be said that reliability refers to the measure of consistency or stability of the test scores.
Different statistical tools are used to measure reliability, such as, the Kuder-Richardson 20 and Cronbach’s alpha. The Kuder-Richardson 20 measures the internal reliability for binary tests and Cronbach’s alpha measures the internal reliability for the tests having multiple answers.
Reliability is categorised as internal and external reliability. Internal reliability of a test measures how well the test actually measures what it is supposed to measure. On the other hand, external reliability of a test implies how well the test can be generalized beyond what it is meant for.
The other types include test-retest and interrater. The test-retest reliability represents the consistency of a test measure across time and interrater is the reliability which represents the consistency of the measure across observers or raters.
A reliability coefficient presents the measure of how well a test or a research instrument measures the achievement. The proportion of variance in the observed scores which is attributable to the actual scores is shown in the reliability coefficient.
The range of the reliability coefficient lies between 0 and 1. In maximum cases, the score of 0.7 is considered as acceptable. A score higher than 0.7 is taken to be good, and a score less than 0.7 is not a good score for reliability.
Validity refers to the incidence that how well a test or a research instrument is measuring what it is supposed to measure. A research having high validity implies it is producing the results corresponding to real properties, variations and characteristics of the different situations. Validity is more difficult to assess than reliability, however, it can be assessed by comparing the outcomes to other relevant theory or information.
There are many types of validity in a research study. However, three major types of validity are construct, content and criterion. Some other types of validity are: Composite, Concurrent, Convergent, Consequential, Curricular and Instructional, Ecological, External, Face, Formative validity & Summative Validity, Incremental Validity, Internal, Predictive, Sampling, and Statistical Conclusion Validity.
Thus, it is evident that these two concepts are highly important for a research paper study to assess whether the outcomes are consistent and whether the measurement instrument is precise to what it is meant to measure.
Bella Phillips As a passionate blogger for Essay Help USA by #1 Writing Expert 50% Off.I am currently employed at a leading Business Law firm in White Plains. I am associated with Allessaywriter.com for several years and helping the Law students with their essays.
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