Prompt 1
The terms reliability and validity are key concepts in research. Reliability is the ability of research data to provide similar results when executed in a different location and among the study population with similar characteristics. This term promotes consistency in research in ensuring that research results are comparable irrespective of where the research work was conducted. Validity, on the other hand, refers to the ability of a tool to measure what it purports to measure. Once an object is identified, the tools of data collection should attain what exactly they were supposed to measure. Extra information collected during data collection is not bad, but the required information should be acquired first (Heale & Twycross 2015). The validity and reliability of an instrument influence the credibility of the study and the value of the evidence in that there is a need for sharing and comparing various data sets in research to ensure evidence-based decision making. The capability to compare research work helps researchers and other consumers of research data to share information and test research results, hence building the field of research.
Prompt 2
The characteristics that should be appraised when evaluating qualitative and quantitative research design include; the study design, the data collection methods used, recruitment of the study participants, sampling method and the sample size identified, data analysis and the triangulation done in the research. The named characteristics inform on the quality of research and its reliability by the consumers of the information helping them make decisions regarding the scientific work (Scharalda G. Jeanfreau, 2010).
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The most important characteristics I think is the design of the study as it sets the groundwork for research activity. A design will inform the data collection tools to be used and most important the type of data to be gathered by the researchers. However, all characteristics are crucial as they help consumers of research work decipher what’s quality and what not and inform their practice using the most reliable work.
References
Heale, R., & A. Twycross, A. (2015). Validity and reliability in quantitative studies. Evidence-Based Nursing , 66-67.
Scharalda, G. & Jeanfreau, L. J. (2010). Appraising Qualitative Research in Health Education: Guidelines for Public Health Educators. Health Promot Pract . , 612–617.
