Reliability and validity are important concepts in determining the objectivity of a screening tool and its effectiveness in measuring the things that it intends to assess. According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Policy Research (1999), a reliable screening tool yields similar results for a person who repeats the test. Validity, on the other hand, leads to sound conclusions from the test (Shimon, 2011). Both reliability and validity are related in the sense one cannot claim to have valid results if the tool used to come up with the results is not reliable. Again, a tool may be reliable but the results obtained may be valid for a certain group only; in other words, the results may not be valid to another group other than the one being tested.
The Family Nutrition and Physical Activity survey are both reliable and valid. The screening tool is reliable because the person taking the test can obtain the same results if they repeat the test. Therefore, the tool is reliable because it can give consistent results. In addition, the tool is reliable because it measures characteristics that are relevant to family nutrition and physical exercise. For example, there are items on breakfast habits and food choices.
Regarding validity, the results obtained are valid because the answers given by a participant (in the survey) are compared to the recommended practice. Therefore, the score obtained from each participant is assessed against a certain reference. Wainer & Braun (2013), argue that a result is valid if the tool assesses the values it intends to measure. In this regard, the screening tool is valid because it does not deviate from its goal of assessing the family nutrition and physical exercise habits.
References
Shimon, J. M. (2011). Introduction to teaching physical education: Principles and strategies . Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
U.S. Dept. of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Policy and Research. (1999). Testing and assessment: An employer's guide to good practices . Washington D.C. : U.S. Dept. of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Policy and Research.
Wainer, H., & Braun, H. I. (2013). Test validity. New York, NY : Routledge.
