Please reply to another students Discussion Board Post. Here is
the students post you are replying to:
Validity and Reliability
This week’s discussion post focuses on qualitative and quantitative
research quality evaluations and standards. The discussion post
will explore the differences between quantitative and qualitative
research validity and reliability measures. Furthermore, this post
discusses employing validation and reliability constructs for this
course. A Christian worldview will illustrate the importance of a
Christian researcher.
Understanding Validity and Reliability
According to Whittemore, Chase, and Mandle (2001), “developing
validity standards in qualitative researcher is challenging because
of the necessity to incorporate rigor and subjectivity as well as
creativity into the scientific process” (p. 522). Although there are
difficulties associated with qualitative research, Creswell and Poth
(2018) provide validity and reliability checks for the research
method. For example, a researcher should consider multiple
sources of data to confirm accuracy; this is known as triangulation.
(Rooshenas, Paramasivan, Jepson, & Donovan, 2019).
Additionally, disconfirmation would allow the researcher to provide
participants with the exceptions to the research theme. Another
method to combat validity issues is for the researcher to compare
recent data from the research to past collected data (Creswell &
Miller, 2000). The research study participants can ask for
additional clarification for data accuracy and engage in research
collaboration opportunities. Another option is to utilize research
audits. External audits allow reviewers to check for data accuracy
(Creswell & Poth, 2018).
Quantitative research validity encompasses three primary aspects:
internal, external, and reliability (Creswell & Miller, 2000). For
example, the researcher can validate the study by analyzing if it
actually speaks to what it is designed to research. Moreover,
external validity relates to how the study is comparable to other
populations (McMahon & Fleury, 2012). Reliability refers to the
study’s ability to be repeated and the answers produced during the
repetition. These three primary validity and reliability measures for
quantitative studies vary from qualitative (Creswell & Poth, 2018).
Qualitative involves the aforementioned reliability and validity
checks and depends on the study's credibility, transferability, and
dependability. Theories can assist with validating qualitative
research. Social science assists with shaping questions and
results, while advocacy theory assists with oppresses groups or
individuals (Creswell & Poth, 2018).
Employing Validation and Reliability
The validation and reliability constructs that would be best
employed in the qualitative research conducted in this course and
possible dissertation topics are triangulation of data sources and
close relationships with the research participants. Obtaining data
about doctoral persistence requires the researcher to spend time
in the “field” and develop working relationships (Creswell & Miller,
2000). Triangulation would allow the researcher to consider
multiple points of data to answer the questions pertaining to the
research (Rooshenas et al., 2019). For example, a researcher
would spend time in the field and use the information from multiple
sources to analyze the data. A researcher would not simply
interview two doctoral students and move forward. Prolonged
engagement would allow for reliability in qualitative research as
well.
Christian Researcher
Demonstrating validity and reliability is important for a Christian
researcher because a Christian researcher will seek the truth for
research, even at the cost of the project. Proverbs 12:22 (ESV)
says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act
faithfully are his delight.” A Christian researcher will want to do
justice by his or her research and will practice integrity. Proverbs
11:3 (ESV) says, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the
crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” Validation and
reliability help a researcher confirm what the research produces;
thus, a Christian researcher will desire to employ validation and
reliability to present truthfulness and integrity-driven data.
Considering Keller
Keller’s statement means a Christian will conduct research with
high standards, integrity, and as an extension of God’s work. As
Keller (2012) discusses, God gifted humankind with the ability to
work and freely think; therefore, humans should use said gift to
produce research that honors the Lord. Thus, a researcher will
take the proper steps to ensure the data is honest, applicable, and
reliable. Without the checks and balances, researchers would
simply produce work with no merit and “disadvantage the
community” (Keller, 2012, p. 203).
References
Creswell, J. W., & Miller, D. L. (2000). Determining validity in
qualitative inquiry. Theory into practice, 39(3), 124-130.
Creswell, J. W. & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry & research
design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). Thousand
Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN: 9781506330204.
Keller, T & Alsdorf, K. (2012). Every good endeavor: Connecting
your work to God’s work. Penguin Random House LLC. ISBN:
9780525952701.
McMahon, S., & Fleury, J. (2012). External validity of physical
activity interventions for community‐dwelling older adults with fall
risk: A quantitative systematic literature review. Journal of
Advanced Nursing, 68(10), 2140-2154. doi:10.1111/j.1365-
2648.2012.05974.x
Rooshenas, L., Paramasivan, S., Jepson, M., & Donovan, J. L.
(2019). Intensive triangulation of qualitative research and
quantitative data to improve recruitment to randomized trials: The
QuinteT approach. Qualitative Health Research, 29(5), 672-679.
doi:10.1177/1049732319828693
Whittemore, R., Chase, S. K., & Mandle, C. L. (2001). Validity in
Qualitative Research. Qualitative Health Research, 11(4), 522–
537. https://doi.org/10.1177/104973201129119299
Running head: RESPONSE 1
Response
Institution Affiliation
Date
RESPONSE 2
The use of triangulation, disconfirmation, and comparing recent and past collected data are
some ways to check validity and reliability in qualitative research. Having noted that in qualitative
research, terms such as dependability, credibility, applicability, and conformability refer to validity
and reliability, dependability to be specific refers to reliability. Triangulation helps to control the
researcher`s bias by combining various methods, for instance, in data collection. Realists and
constructivists embrace triangulation since there have multiple perceptions about reality (Daniel,
2019). As you have mentioned, inquiry audits are used to check dependability and examine the
process and research subject to enhance consistency.
Maintaining a lasting presence with participants in qualitative research is crucial to enhance
validity and reliability in this course. The prolonged engagement allows the researcher to
familiarize themselves with the context and setting of the participants to test for any
misinformation and build a stronger rapport to get rich data (Korstjens, and Moser, 2018).
Moreover, persistence engagement allows the researcher to identify various elements relevant to
the issue under study, which facilitates focus to details.
Demonstrating validity and reliability for a Christian researcher is important because the
truth is the foundation of Christianity (Ratzinger, 2016). The reason credibility has high standards
is that Christian worldviews are based on the Bible, and it is difficult to prove the beliefs
scientifically. This demonstrates the need to enhance validity and reliability to authenticate any
Christianity study. This aligns with your position that lies is an abomination to the Lord, and
trustworthiness is the Lord`s delight. It is true Keller`s statement implies that Christian researchers
should provide integrity-driven data to benefit the community rather than meet selfish interests. In
other words, it addresses ethical issues of conducting reliable and valid research. This has to be
the guideline for all types of researchers to ensure the use of accurate data.
RESPONSE 3
References
RESPONSE 4
Daniel, K. (2019). Using the TACT Framework to Learn the Principles of Rigour in Qualitative
Research. Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 17(3), 118-129.
Korstjens, I., & Moser, A. (2018). Series: Practical guidance to qualitative research. Part 4:
Trustworthiness and publishing. European Journal of General Practice, 24(1), 120-124.
Ratzinger, J. C. (2016). Truth and tolerance: Christian belief and world religions. Ignatius Press.
