HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kimberlin, C. L. Articles by Winterstein, A. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kimberlin, C. L. Articles by Winterstein, A. G.

CAROLE L. KIMBERLIN, PH.D., is Professor; and ALMUT WINTERSTEIN, PH.D., is Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville.

Address correspondence to Dr. Kimberlin at the Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100496, Gainesville, FL 32610 (kimberlin{at}cop.ufl.edu).

Purpose. Issues related to the validity and reliability of measurement instruments used in research are reviewed. Summary. Key indicators of the quality of a measuring instrument are the reliability and validity of the measures. The process of developing and validating an instrument is in large part focused on reducing error in the measurement process. Reliability estimates evaluate the stability of measures, internal consistency of measurement instruments, and interrater reliability of instrument scores. Validity is the extent to which the interpretations of the results of a test are warranted, which depends on the particular use the test is intended to serve. The responsiveness of the measure to change is of interest in many of the applications in health care where improvement in outcomes as a result of treatment is a primary goal of research. Several issues may affect the accuracy of data collected, such as those related to self-report and secondary data sources. Self-report of patients or subjects is required for many of the measurements conducted in health care, but self-reports of behavior are particularly subject to problems with social desirability biases. Data that were originally gathered for a different purpose are often used to answer a research question, which can affect the applicability to the study at hand. Conclusion. In health care and social science research, many of the variables of interest and outcomes that are important are abstract concepts known as theoretical constructs. Using tests or instruments that are valid and reliable to measure such constructs is a crucial component of research quality. Index terms: Control, quality; Data collection; Errors; Methodology; Research

 

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. M. Filbey, J. P. Schacht, U. S. Myers, R. S. Chavez, and K. E. Hutchison Marijuana craving in the brain PNAS, August 4, 2009; 106(31): 13016 - 13021. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]