Reliability and Validity, Coursework Example

Introduction

Modern research principles support the continued growth and development of studies that are both reliable and valid in their focus and key elements. This is an important step in the discovery of new types of research and related information that supports ongoing growth and progress. It is necessary to develop strategies that address validity and reliability in developing and executing research studies on a regular basis. Most importantly, researchers must use tools and techniques that encourage valid and reliable results for consideration as part of evidence-based practice and in future studies to expand outcomes. Nurse researchers must demonstrate their willingness to be stewards of the subject matter and to understand the impact of research on general practice and quality of care. The data collection process in a research study must provide a framework for exploring new insights and areas of focus to support and enhance evidence that is both realistic and appropriate for application to nursing practice and future studies. Therefore, reliability and validity must be explored in detail as a means of identifying resources that will capture the necessary elements of practice on a continuous basis.

Analysis

There are many challenges associated with developing a research study and in determining how to address the challenges of reliability and validity. Reliability is determined when a research instrument offers the same results over several studies with different population groups, while validity addresses the intent of the research protocol and whether or not the results were what were intended to begin with (Golagfshani, 2003). These issues are of critical importance in order to determine if a study protocol is effective and the research questions under consideration are applicable to the study population in question (Golagfshani, 2003). The study must be reliable and valid in order to identify a pattern of evidence that will be appropriate for future studies and that will support the growth of evidence-based practice for the research team (Golagfshani, 2003).

In research studies, reliability and validity are critical in order to demonstrate that a study has been successful in meeting its objectives and in addressing its research questions. A study by Mirski et.al (2010) utilized a survey instrument administered to nurses to test the validity of a number of different scales used throughout nursing practice. This study explored the dimensions of validity for the chosen scales, and also determined that they were reliable in their ability to predict outcomes for patients based upon nursing expertise and utilization of the chosen scales (Mirski et.al, 2010). This study is relevant because it provides a framework for exploring the different dimensions of reliability and validity that are important to research studies so that the chosen hypotheses and research questions are valid and reliable as they are used in future studies (Mirski et.al, 2010). Nursing studies in general must identify research instruments that have the potential to be effective in answering one or more research questions and in developing potential indicators that support evidence-based practice. This will enable the instruments to be deemed reliable and/or valid once the study has taken place. Research instruments must support a reasonable approach and offer a unique impact to a project and its population. These efforts will support the engagement of the research team and the ability of the project to be successful in supporting the desired results. This process also engages the research team to identify an instrument that will be valid, reliable, and applicable to future studies.

When a research study is developed and the measurement instrument is chosen, there are a number of factors to consider that demonstrate whether or not the instrument will be deemed reliable and valid. An instrument may not be reliable if the results that are derived do not come close to the desired result, while its validity may be low if there are errors that do not lead to an appropriate conclusion (AFMC, 2014). In these instances, it is possible that a research instrument is invalid and unreliable; however, in other instances, it is possible that the instrument is valid but not reliable. This occurs when the anticipated outcomes are achieved, but for some reason, the study cannot be duplicated. This is not a unique situation, but it does lend to the necessity to address the study further in order to determine how to improve the study so that its level of reliability is increased from one study to the next. This will support the application of the research instrument to future studies.

Conclusion

Establishing a successful approach in developing a research instrument requires an effective understanding of the instrument and its ability to be both valid and reliable in its strategy. This type of instrument will support the ability of a research study to have a lasting impact on evidence-based practice and successful research outcomes. It is important for nurse researchers to develop strategies that will have a positive impact on patients who participate in research studies and the tools that are used for evaluation and diagnostics. These issues are critical to the success of a given protocol and its long-term impact on nursing practice as a whole. These factors will support the continued growth of the practice and the ability of nurses to gain valuable experience in research-related processes and programs. This impact is often significant when a research instrument is used that is not only valid, but is reliable and may be duplicated across future studies. These efforts demonstrate the importance of research-based outcomes and the overall direction of a research strategy. Under these conditions, it is possible that nurses will have a significant impact on research and related outcomes, both now and in future studies.

References

The Association of Faculties of Medicine in Canada (2014). Reliability and validity of health measures. Retrieved from http://phprimer.afmc.ca/Part2-MethodsStudyingHealth/Chapter6MethodsMeasuringHealth/Reliabilityandvalidityofhealthmeasures

Burns, N., and Grove, S.K. (2010). Understanding nursing research: building an evidence-based practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Golafshani, N. (2003). Understanding reliability and validity in qualitative research. The Qualitative Report, 8(4), 597-607.

Mirski, M. A., LeDroux, S. N., Lewin III, J. J., Thompson, C. B., Mirski, K. T., & Griswold, M. (2010). Validity and reliability of an intuitive conscious sedation scoring tool: The nursing instrument for the communication of sedation*. Critical care medicine, 38(8), 1674-1684.