Validity and Reliability in Quantitative Studies Evid Based Nurs: First Published As 10.1136/Eb-2015-102129 on 15 May 2015
Research made simple Validity and reliability in quantitative studies Evid Based Nurs: first published as 10.1136/eb-2015-102129 on 15 May 2015. Downloaded from Roberta Heale,1 Alison Twycross2 10.1136/eb-2015-102129 Evidence-based practice includes, in part, implementa- have a high degree of anxiety? In another example, a tion of the findings of well-conducted quality research test of knowledge of medications that requires dosage studies. So being able to critique quantitative research is calculations may instead be testing maths knowledge. 1 School of Nursing, Laurentian an important skill for nurses. Consideration must be There are three types of evidence that can be used to University, Sudbury, Ontario, given not only to the results of the study but also the demonstrate a research instrument has construct Canada 2Faculty of Health and Social rigour of the research. Rigour refers to the extent to validity: which the researchers worked to enhance the quality of Care, London South Bank 1 Homogeneity—meaning that the instrument mea- the studies. In quantitative research, this is achieved University, London, UK sures one construct. through measurement of the validity and reliability.1 2 Convergence—this occurs when the instrument mea- Correspondence to: Validity sures concepts similar to that of other instruments. Dr Roberta Heale, Validity is defined as the extent to which a concept is Although if there are no similar instruments avail- School of Nursing, Laurentian accurately measured in a quantitative study. For able this will not be possible to do. University, Ramsey Lake Road, example, a survey designed to explore depression but Sudbury, Ontario, Canada 3 Theory evidence—this is evident when behaviour is which actually measures anxiety would not be consid- P3E2C6; similar to theoretical propositions of the construct ered valid.
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