Question

Discuss some of the techniques and criteria used by researchers to address the issues of reliability and validity within:

(i) Quantitative research methods

(ii) Qualitative research methods

Answer 1

Realiability & validity are the two most important & fundamemtal features in the evaluation of any measurement instrument or tool for a good reaserach. The purpose of this reaserch is to disscuss the validity & reliability of mesurment instrument that are used in research .

Within:

1) Quantitative research method

The significance of this test is to ensure replicability or repeatability for the result. The extent to which results are consistent over time & an accurate representation of the total population under study is referred to as realiability & a result of a study can be reproduced under a similar methodology then the research instrument considered to he reliable. A high degree of stability indicated a high degree of reliability .

The reseracher joppe in 2000 ditects a problem with test- retest method which can make the instrument, to a certain degree, unrelaible.The test-retest method may sensitize the respondent to the subject matter , & hence influenced the responses given. Hence it is not sure that there was no change in extraneous influences such as attitude change that has occurred this could lead to a difference in the responses provided. These kind of errors will reduce the accuracy and consistency of the instrument and the test scores.

Validity determines weather the research truely measures that which it was intended to measure or how truthful the research results are. Wainer & Braun in 1998 discribe the validity in quantitative reasearch as "constrict validity ". The construct is the initial concept determines which data is to be gathered and how it is to be gathered.

2) Qualitative research method

Any kind of research that produces findings not arrived at by means of statistical procedures or other means of quantification. The concept of realiability is irrelevant in qualitative research according to stenbacka 2001 the concept of reliability is even misleading in qualitative research if qualitative study is disscussed with reliability as a criterion the consequences is rather that the study is no good. To ensure reliability in qualitative research, examination of trustworthyness is crucial. Stenbacka 2001 discribes the notion of reliability as one of the quality concepts in qualitative research. Which to be solved in order claim a study as a part of proper reserch. The technique and the criteria adressed, if the issues of reliability, validity, trustworthyness, quality and rigor are meant differentiating a good from bad research the testing and increasing the reliability, validity, trustworthyness, quality and rigor will be important to research in any paradigm.