Research Methods and Validity and Reliability

a. Survey Research. Survey research frequently is not considered to be high in validity on the grounds that data developed though the administration of surveys tends to be superficial. Survey research can be high in reliability, for two reasons. First, the structure of the questionnaire can promote reliability, and second, the random sampling method can promote reliability. Survey research, by presenting all subjects with a standard question or context, tends to reduce the potential of unreliability. Because survey research can produce highly reliable data, the findings of survey research frequently are considered to be generalizable.

b. Experiments. Data developed through the conduct of experiments frequently are not considered to be high in validity on the grounds that data developed though the conduct of experiments tend to be superficial. Data developed through the conduct of experiments, however, can be highly reliable, as the researcher is able to control and manipulate variables. Experiments are capable of producing data that are characterized by internal validity, but experiments are less able to produce data that are characterized by external validity. As contrasted with survey research, it frequently is difficult to generalize the results of experiments to a wider population.

c. Field Research. Field research is considered to be high in validity, b

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iveness and mutual exclusiveness. Thus, gender is an example of a nominal variable. Nominal variables also are referred to as categorical variables. b. Ordinal Variable. An ordinal variable is a factor whose attributes may be rank-ordered, which means that the different attributes of the factor represent more or less of the variable. A socioeconomic classification structure is an example of an ordinal variable. Ordinal variables, as is true of nominal variables, must possess attributes that are characterized by exhaustiveness and mutual exclusiveness. c. Interval Variable. An interval variable is a factor whose attributes can be expressed in meaningful standard intervals because this standard distance between the attributes is inherently logical. A Celsius temperature scale is an example of an interval variable, as the zero point is arbitrary, as opposed to true. Interval variables also must be exhaustive and mutually exclusive. Ratios involving different attribute values in interval variables are not meaningful. d. Ratio Variable. A ratio variable is a factor whose attributes can be expressed in meaningful standard intervals because this standard distance between the attributes is inherently logical, as is true
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Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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