Reliability, Validity and Trustworthiness in Nursing - Essay Example

? Reliability, validity and trustworthiness in nursing Introduction Nursing has always been considered as a practical discipline and there was a lack of theoretical developments in the field of nursing. The studies conducted by the nurses borrowed from their practical experience should be based on three main concepts, such as reliability, validity and trustworthiness. Theoretical knowledge for the modern nurses is of high importance, because it leads to a personal development and self-perfection of a nurse. Modern scientific paradigms in nursing are triggering nurses’ learning: “there is nothing to be gained from the use of alternative terms which, on analysis, often prove to be identical to the traditional terms of reliability and validity” (Long & Johnson 2000, p. 30). In case positive results of the nurses’ researches and studies are reached, then their research strategies are valid and reliable (Zangaro, Soeken 2005, p. 6). Qualitative researches are often positioned as pragmatic researches and there is no doubt that there is a need to follow the rules of these researches. In accordance with Aristotle, there is more practical than theoretical aspects of nursing. One of the greatest ancient philosophers claims: “practical sciences inquire into the principles and causes of things to achieve knowledge in order to make, as in engineering, or in order to do, as in ethics” (Strickland 2006, p. 5). Three main concepts of nursing research Reliability and validity are two integrative elements of trustworthiness of the researches and studies. Trustworthiness of the research depends on the initial research question, data collection, analysis and conclusions reached. The issues of validity and reliability should be taken into account in the process of reading different research projects, either quantitative or qualitative ones. Both in qualitative and quantitative studies, these concepts are of crucial importance. That is why the following research, which is based on the article by Byrne, Cooper and Fairburn “Weight maintenance and relapse in obesity: a qualitative study”, the concept of reliability is discussed in detail. The study deals with the problems of obesity, a challenging issue of weight regain and weight maintenance. A qualitative approach is chosen in this study, because there is a need to define the number of factors, which are influencing on weight maintenance and relapse in obesity. The reliability of quantitative studies depends on the methodology of calculation. In the study conducted by Byrne, Cooper and Fairburn transcripts were analyzed with the help of NUD*IST software (Byrne, Cooper and Fairburn 2003, p. 956). Reliability demonstrates how a certain procedural instrument is used to provide similar results in different circumstances. Validity is the correlation of an intended measure with the real measure. These two concepts should be better considered in terms of nursing research. In a broader definition: “validity in relation to research is a judgment regarding the degree to which the components of the research reflect the theory, concept, or variable under study” (Roberts 2006, p. 42). In order to determine whether results are valid or not, it is necessary to determine worthiness of the reached results in the process of the study. Internal validity refers to evaluation of the results’ worthiness. External validity deals with generalization of the study’s results and its application to the larger population (Morse 1991, p. 15). Further on, the concept of reliability is considered in detail and it is relevant to discuss the main characteristics of this concept. Reliability determines an instrument’s stability and consistency in a certain context. Reliability of a measured instrument should be considered in terms of a particular study otherwise its application may be irrelevant. Further on reliability will be considered in accordance with three main characteristics: stability, internal consistency and equivalence (Munhall 2001, p. 18). Test-retest reliability or stability is applied in the research, because the researchers gave an opportunity to the participants of the interview and they were able to compare the answers of the participant concerning the same issues within a certain period of time. Another relevant characteristic is half-split reliability or internal consistency, which refers to reliability measurement, which is focused on psychological characteristics’ measurement (Byrnel, Cooper, Fairburn 2003, p. 956). Kuder-Richardson formula was used by the researchers and they obtained r=0.75, P is less than 0.01. Inter rater reliability is calculated when the same instruments are used during a certain period of time of data collection. Moreover, this study is reliable because of individual and group interviews. The researchers underline the reliability of this quantitative study because of “more than one method of respondent validation; multiple coding by more than one independent researcher; and the involvement of two independent co-investigators at all stages of the data analysis” (Byrne, Cooper and Fairburn 2003, p. 961). Reliability of this research is undermined by such concepts as “self-worth” in terms of weight. There is a direct correlation between researchers and certain statistical data analyses. The concept of test-retest is absent in this research and thus it brings about a sense of ambiguity of the study. Moreover, as it has already been mentioned, both individual and group interviews were used in the study and we can talk about a “split-half test”. In order to define reliability more exactly, it is possible to calculate its proportion. The ideal reliability for any research or study is 80 to 90 per cent. Therefore, both validity and reliability determine trustworthiness of the research. To reduce errors means to develop a trustworthy basis for research or study. There is an option to minimize the risk of error occurrence and research acknowledgement is the section, which outlines possible errors in the study. Data collection There are two main phases of this research. During Phase 1 in-depth individual interviews were conducted with 20 women from each group (60 totally), and during Phase 2 two group interviews were conducted with four Maintainers and four Regainers (16 totally). The reliability of data collection can be found out in the interview schedule, which was focused on general demographic information collection, information about weight and a brief weight history. In the Module 2 there was an open-ended exploratory interview. In this Module, Maintainers and Regainers discussed their attempts of weight maintenance and regain. The participants were encouraged in describing their ideas and attitudes to weight loss. In Module 3, the participant had a chance to summarize the information and clarify any potential discrepancies. In Module 4 research’s hypothesis was correlated with the personal experience of the participant. Data analysis Reliability of data analysis can be seen in the initial intention to differ between weight Maintainers and Regainers. The involvement of NUD*IST software in data analysis is the first and foremost reliable factor of data analysis. Moreover, it is relevant to think about validity of data analysis. The initial intention was to measure certain indices correlated with weight. Data analysis was represented in the particular ‘blocks’ of five interviews. A special attention of researchers was paid to data, which was in conflict with the main interpretations. The ration of validity and reliability of the research was r=0.75. The case discussed by the participants of the interview occurred in two different stages. They had an opportunity to express their own ideas and were encouraged to express their ideas independently. It is possible to claim that validity and reliability go hand in hand in this research. In the result of this conglomerate, research’s trustworthiness is reached. There is no doubt that different methodology implemented in the process of research, more than one respondents’ validation, different coding by independent researchers underline reliability of collected and analyzed data. It was easy to interpret obtained data, because of a valid basis of the research. For example, one of the tasks the participants of the interview have completed several times. Therefore, the concepts of validity and reliability were taken into account in the process of the study focused on weight gaining or maintenance (Gonzalez, Luis, Puente, Rodriguez, Lopez, and Furlong 2006, p. 104). The integration of these two concepts resulted in the occurrence of the results’ trustworthiness. Conclusion It is possible also to prove reliability of the conducted research on the basis of the following claim: “since there is evidence for the construct validity of the scale, specific reliability evidence becomes less of a concern because it is a well-established measurement principle that reliability is a necessary but not sufficient prerequisite for validity. Once an instrument is shown to be valid, then it is also assumed to be reliable” (Bonneterre, Ma Liaudy, Chatellier, Lang, and Regis de Gaudemaris 2008, p. 207). This claim is relevant to the current research, because data validity was defined in the beginning of the study. Moreover, the instrument of interest, such as characteristics connected with weight, its gaining/maintenance supports metric properties of the measured instrument. In other words, the main characteristics of weight gaining/maintenance are consistent with the initial suggestions of the study. Therefore, the initial question of the study correlates with the obtained results. Three main concepts: reliability, validity and trustworthiness are the most important issues of research in nursing and it is necessary to consider these factors as integrated triggers of a successful research. References Bonneterre, Vincent, Sylvette Ma Liaudy, Gilles Chatellier, Thierry Lang, and Regis de Gaudemaris, 2008, "Reliability, Validity, and Health Issues Arising from Questionnaires Used to Measure Psychosocial and Organizational Work Factors (Powfs) among Hospital Nurses: a Critical Review," Journal of Nursing Measurement, 16, 207+. Byrnel S., Cooper Z., Fairburn, C, 2003, “Weight maintenance and relapse in obesity: a qualitative study”, International Journal of Obesity 27, 955–962. Gonzalez Gutierrez, Jose Luis, Cecilia Penacoba Puente, Ricardo Moreno Rodriguez, Almudena Lopez Lopez, and Lilian Velasco Furlong, 2006, “Nursing Motives for Helping Scale (N-mhs): Reliability and Validity," The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 9,103+. Long T. & Johnson M., 2000, “Rigour, reliability and validity research”, Clinical Effectiveness in Nursing, 4(1), 30–37. McKenna, H., 1997, Nursing theories and models. Morse J., M., 1991, “Qualitative nursing research: a free-for-all?” In Qualitative Nursing Research: A Contemporary Dialogue (Morse J., ed.), Sage, Newbury Park, 14–22. Munhall P., L., 2001, Nursing Research: A Qualitative Perspective, 3rd edn. Jones & Bartlett, Boston. Roberts P. et al, 2006, “Reliability and validity in research”, Nursing Standard, 20, 44, 41-45. Strickland, Ora L., 2006, "In Search of Reliability and Validity Evidence for an Existing Instrument," Journal of Nursing Measurement, 14, 3+. Zangaro, George A., and Karen L. Soeken, 2005, "Meta-analysis of the Reliability and Validity of Part B of the Index of Work Satisfaction across Studies," Journal of Nursing Measurement, 13, 7+. Read More