With the help of the previous modules, you have your survey method and survey questions figured out. That’s great! But how can you be sure that your survey questions appropriately measure what you are studying? It is essential that you’re prepared to show that your method truly measures what you want it to measure. You can determine this with tests of reliability and validity. First, we will go over the definition and uses for reliability and then we’ll cover validity on the next page.
Reliability refers to how consistent a measure is.
Using a research method that provides stable and consistent results is essential for the accuracy of your results. You wouldn’t trust an intelligence test that deviated by 50 points every time you took it, would you? To trust your data, you need to make sure your research method is reliable. There are three main types of reliability. Click on the buttons below to find out more or check out this additional resource from Scribbr.
