Research Instrument, Validity, and Reliability

Vocabulary flashcards covering concepts of research instruments, methods of instrument development, quantitative scales, validity types, and reliability measures from Lecture 8.

Research Instrument

Basic tools researchers use to gather data for specific research problems, such as performance tests, questionnaires, interviews, and observation checklists.

Concise Instrument

A characteristic of a good research instrument indicating that it is succinct in length yet capable of eliciting the needed data.

Adoption

The process of using an instrument directly from already utilized instruments from previous related studies.

Adaptation

The process of using a modified instrument when available instruments do not yield the exact data needed to answer the research problem.

Construction

The process where a researcher creates their own instrument that corresponds to the variable and scope of their current study.

Likert Scale

The most common scale used in quantitative research, where respondents are asked to rate or rank statements according to a provided scale.

Semantic Differential

A flexible and easy-to-construct scale where respondents rate a series of bipolar adjectives.

Face Validity

Also known as logical validity; calls for an initiative judgment of the instrument as it appears to decide if it is valid just by looking at it.

Content Validity

Validity established when an instrument meets study objectives by checking if statements or questions elicit needed information, often with input from experts in the field of interest.

Construct Validity

Validity that refers to how an instrument corresponds to the theoretical construct of the study and concerns whether a specific measure relates to other measures.

Concurrent Validity

Validity established when an instrument can predict results similar to those of similar tests that are already validated.

Predictive Validity

Validity established when an instrument produces results similar to similar tests that will be employed in the future, particularly useful for aptitude tests.

Reliability

Refers to the consistency of the measures or results of the research instrument.

Test-retest Reliability

Reliability achieved by giving the same test to the same group of respondents twice to check the consistency of the two scores.

Equivalent Forms Reliability

Reliability established by administering two identical tests, except for wordings, to the same group of respondents.

Internal Consistency Reliability

Determines how well items measure the same construct, evaluated using the split-half coefficient, Cronbach's alpha, or Kuder-Richardson formula.