Question

In no fewer than 200 words write an essay that describes what is involved in determining:

- if a research questionnaire is valid and reliable and

- if a selected sample distribution is appropriate

Answer 1

Questionnaire is a predetermined set of questions used to collect data. Structured questionnaires are usually associated with quantitative research, which means research that is concerned with numbers (how many? how often? how satisfied?). Validity of a questionnaire can be established using a panel of experts which explore theoretical construct. This form of validity exploits how well the idea of a theoretical construct is represented in an operational measure (questionnaire). On the other hand, questionnaire validity can be established with the use of another survey in the form of a field test.

Reliability is an extent to which a questionnaire, test, observation or any measurement procedure produces the same results on repeated trials. The degree to which an individual's responses (i.e., their scores) on a survey would stay the same over time is also a sign of reliability.

Reliability of the questionnaire is usually carried out using a pilot test. Reliability could be assessed in three major forms; test-retest reliability, alternate-form reliability and internal consistency reliability. Test-retest reliability is assessed through a test-retest procedure that involves administering the same measurement instrument such as questionnaire to the same individuals under the same conditions after some period of time.

Alternate form refers to the amount of agreement between two or more research instruments such as two different questionnaires on a research construct administered at nearly the same point in time. Internal consistency concerns the extent to which items on the test or instrument are measuring the same thing.