Differences between Reliability and Validity in Research
Research measures must exhibit reliability and validity qualities for a study or research to be effective. Accordingly, reliability and validity characteristics ensure that the research findings can be relied on. Firstly, reliability tests the consistency of research measures. There are types of reliability in research: test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, and internal consistency reliability (Mauldin, 2020). If a research measure is test-retest reliable, the results are relatively the same (consistent) after the measure has been tested multiple times. An example includes getting relatively similar scores after taking several SATs. Inter-rater reliability applies where the study involves observing, for instance, people’s behavior, and there are two or more observers. Therefore, inter-rater reliability is the extent to which different observers can agree on what they observe. Lastly, internal consistency reliability applies to research involving scales; therefore, the scores on each question on the scale should correlate with each other as they all test different elements of a single concept.
On the other hand, validity tests are used to measure the accuracy of a research measure and ensure that the research measure tests for what it was intended to (Mitchell, n.d.). There are many subtypes of validity: concurrent, content, convergent, discriminant, and face validity. Firstly, concurrent validity ensures a measure can predict outcomes from a known measure given simultaneously. Second, content validity is when the measure includes all possible meanings of the concept. Third, when a measure has a conceptual similarity with a pre-existing measure of the same concept, it exhibits convergent validity. Next, discriminant validity ensures a measure does not relate to measures it should not correlate to statistically. Finally, when a measure measures what it is supposed to, it exhibits face validity.
The two quality measures (reliability and validity) are essential in a research study. However, a measure can be reliable without being valid, but it cannot be valid without being reliable (Mauldin, 2020). In other words, a valid measure cannot be valid if it is also not reliable. For that reason, validity is more important in a research study. Therefore, researchers should aim for validity because it will mean that their measures are valid and also reliable.
References
Mauldin, R. (2020). Foundations of Social Work Research.
Mitchell, M. Reliability vs. Validity – Social Work Shorts – ASWB Study Prep (LMSW, LSW, LCSW Exams) [Video]. Retrieved 13 April 2022, from https://youtu.be/bkc1Vh_540s.
ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
We’ll write everything from scratch
Question 
What are the differences between reliability and validity?
Differences between Reliability and Validity in Research
Which one is more important in a research study
Complete the order form and upload all of your files, including any instructions, rubrics, or other materials provided by your instructor. 
Complete the order payment after filling in the order form. We’ll receive your order and assign it to a writer.
The assigned writer will complete your paper and forward it to our Editing Team for review and approval.
Once approved by the editor, the completed paper will be uploaded to your account for you to download, review and approve.