Validity and reliability in quantitative and qualitative research

Key Constructs

Validity:

the quality of being valid

Quantitative Research

Qualitative Research

Construct validity:

Deals with the degree to which the instruments used in a study measure the examined consutruct

External validity:

Deals with the extent to which the findings of a study can be generalized to a wider population.

Internal validity:

Deals with the degree to which the research desing is such that has controlled for variables that could influence the result of the study.

Internal realiability:

The extent to which someone else analyzes the same data & comes up with the same results.

Inter-rater reliability

Intra-rater reliability

External reliability:

Deals with whether or not another researcher, undertaking a similar study, would come to the same conclusions.

Internal validity:

Depends on what is referred to as credibility and external validity to transferability.

Transferability or external validity:

It has to do with the degree to which the findings of a qualitative study can be applied to other contexts.

A researcher may gain credibility or internal validity by carefully recording & analyzing all the gathered data and present it in a fair & unbiased manner.

The reliability of qualitative research depends on dependability.

Dependability: the degree to which the results reported in the study are trust eorthy and reliable.

Generalizability:

- Statistical procedures

Generalizability:

-Naturalistic inquiry: whaterver understanding has been gained by an in-depth study of real life classroom, it may light on issues for toher people.