
Instead, they collect data to demonstrate that they work. Psychologists do not simply assume that their measures work. But how do researchers know that the scores actually represent the characteristic, especially when it is a construct like intelligence, self-esteem, depression, or working memory capacity? The answer is that they conduct research using the measure to confirm that the scores make sense based on their understanding of the construct being measured. Describe the kinds of evidence that would be relevant to assessing the reliability and validity of a particular measure.Īgain, measurement involves assigning scores to individuals so that they represent some characteristic of the individuals.

Define validity, including the different types and how they are assessed.Define reliability, including the different types and how they are assessed.A personal homepage on a university's server does not automatically confer credibility. Others can be on a parent site but not officially sponsored by the organization. Some sites are officially approved by the parent organization to which they're linked. Legitimate references and links to other sources can add to a document's credibility and depth of scholarship. Is the information current? Outdated information and broken links indicate the page is not being maintained. Always check multiple sources to determine credibility.īe aware of when the web page was created and how recently it's been updated.

Consider the publisher's reputation and trustworthiness.Ĭan the facts presented on a website be substantiated elsewhere? Beware of information that can't be confirmed or that presents a biased view. This can help you determine the origin of the document, for example whether it is produced by an established publisher, a government agency, a nonprofit organization, or a commercial website. What are the author's credentials? Does he/she have expertise in this field? Is biographical information provided? It should be evident who created the content. When an article or website is authored anonymously it has little credibility. How do you determine if a source is credible? You can evaluate the reliability and scholarship of information you find both online and in print by using these guidelines:
