Evidence based practice

Reliability

 Reliability refers to the consistency and dependability of the data collection process. It’s
like having a steady hand that produces the same result each time it reaches for a task.
 In the research context, reliability is all about ensuring that if you were to repeat the same
study using the same reliable measurement technique, you’d end up with the same results.
It’s like having multiple researchers independently conduct the same experiment and
getting outcomes that align perfectly.
Example of reliability

 Imagine you are studying the reliability of a smartphone’s battery life measurement. To
collect data, you fully charge the phone and measure the battery life three times in the
same controlled environment—same apps running, same brightness level, and same usage
patterns.
 If the measurements consistently show a similar battery life duration each time you repeat
the test, it indicates that your measurement method is reliable. The consistent results
under the same conditions assure you that the battery life measurement can be trusted to
provide dependable information about the phone’s performance.
Validity

 validity is one of the most important characteristics of high-quality scientific research.

Every relevant scientific work means that it is reliable. A validity shows its compliance
with academic standards, reasonability, and usefulness.
 For example: When you are writing a research paper, you have academic writing rules or
standards, plus some requirements of your professor. When you conduct research itself,
you also have specific requirements and standards that allow you to get a useful and
meaningful result.
Example of validity

 Researchers collect data from a group of participants in a study aiming to assess the
validity of a newly developed stress questionnaire. To ensure validity, they compare the
scores obtained from the stress questionnaire with the participants’ actual stress levels
measured using physiological indicators such as heart rate variability and cortisol levels.
 If participants’ scores correlate strongly with their physiological stress levels, the
questionnaire is valid. This means the questionnaire accurately measures participants’
stress levels, and its results correspond to real variations in their physiological responses
to stress.
 Validity assessed through the correlation between questionnaire scores and physiological
measures ensures that the questionnaire is effectively measuring what it claims to
measure participants’ stress levels.
 Internal validity is an indicator that reflects the reliability of a conclusion that was
obtained after a series of real experimental studies. This is the main requirement that is
put forward to each result of an experiment

 External validity is the reliability of a result of a study compared to the results of

experiments that are aimed at full compliance with an “ideal” result.
 in the world of research, differentiating between reliability and validity is crucial.
Reliability ensures consistent results, while validity confirms accurate measurements
Levels Of Evidence And Grades Of Recommendations
5 A’s of Evidence based practice