Introduction
Heart disease is one of the leading global killer diseases. Owing to this fact, it is important that proper research is conducted so that enough data is obtained. Obtaining enough data enables the proper analysis, which can then unearth several critical characteristics that are useful in addressing the heart disease.
Calculations
Maximum Value point= 100
Highest Score = 92%
Lowest Score = 0
Median = 88
Mean = Sum of all Scores (X'S)Number of Scores (N)
= 0x2+75x3+80x4+88x5+(92x6)20
= 0+225+320+440+55220
= 76.85
Standard Deviation = √ 1Ni=0nX-X2
= 17.71
Test Reliability = 0.844
Standard error of measurement (SE) = Standard Deviation of the Mean√Number of Observations of the Sample (N)
= 17.71√20
= 3.96
Analysis of the results
The results reveal some interesting statistics; the mean for the data is 76.85 while the standard deviation is 17. This means that the survey shows consistent results and owing to this factor, the results should be left the way they are. Conducting a survey is a very complex and massive undertaking which takes a lot of time and resources. Due to the nature of research, most research works are not up to the required standard. It is therefore paramount that each research work is conducted in such a way that suitability in meeting the criteria is not compromised so that there is confidence in the findings therein. Users of the research should not rely on the findings of any relevant research they come through since not all research is of the same quality or acceptable standard. For a survey to be suitable and acceptable steps must be taken to ensure that the survey being undertaken meets the standards of reliability and validity. The research on identifying causes teenagers driving while intoxicated will be suitable when right steps are taken in place to ensure the reliability and validity of the survey (Lee, 2006).
Validity of a survey refers the ability of a survey to measure the parameters it was intended to measure that is, the ability of research work to establish accuracy in measurement. The secret to achieving validity in research work is highly influenced by the type of questions asked; if the questions measures parameters that are supposed to be measured then the survey can be regarded as valid. Validity takes various forms they include face validity, content validity, internal validity, and external validity. Steps in testing validity of this survey involve assessing whether all forms of validity have been adhered to in the survey. Face validity guarantees that the parameters will appear obtain the information being sort for. On the other hand, content validity ensures that the survey questions echoes the issues being researched and that all the related key issues are included.
Internal validity is yet another important form of validity that cannot be ignored in assessing the standards of this survey. Internal validity is concerned with the relationship between independent and dependent variable. This form of validity is guaranteed when the research questions explains the outcomes required the survey (Heiman, 2010). In this survey the questions designed must help identify the root causes of the objective of the results. Finally, external validity is yet another critical form of validity that must be considered in a survey. External validity measures the ability of survey to be generalized to reflect the population represented by the survey. The main aim of the survey is to identify the issues relating to heart disease and the finding of this research should reflect the situation across the nation. To achieve this generalization, the questions asked must reflect the entire target population in the country. It is important that the sample chosen is representational and not skewed in a particular direction or favor a given region of the nation. When this is achieved then it becomes very easy to extrapolate the results.
Reliability of survey refers the ability of survey parameters to yield consistent result. It is important to note that there can be no validity in a survey if reliability does not exist. In assessing the reliability of this survey various forms of reliability must be put into perspective; therefore steps in testing reliability of this research involves determining whether different types of reliability have been considered in the research work. The different forms of reliability under review include test retest, equivalent form, and internal consistency (Burns & Grove, 2007). Test retest involves administering a questionnaire to the same person or the same group of people twice at different times. The results from the two questions are then correlated in a bid to test for reliability.
For instance, this survey must administer to respondents questions on possible remedies to teenage driving while intoxicated twice over a given period of time, perhaps second administration happening after two weeks then obtaining correlation coefficient to indicate stability. The other form of reliability test is equivalent form technique; under this technique, the researcher should be able to design two different instruments to measure identical hypotheses. The results are then correlated to measure reliability. The survey should develop a set of questions with the same knowledge base and split them into two versions which are then administered through correlation the scores of the two versions are used to determine reliability. Last but not least, internal consistency.
This form of reliability is significant because it measures the degree to which different questions and parameters measure the same characteristic. In assessing the reliability of survey there is need to ensure that the questionnaires designed are such that they have different rating scales like excellent/poor or agree/ disagrees then the questions can be assessed through the use methods such as Cronbach’s Alpha and split sample comparison to measure internal consistency.
References
Burns N, & Grove S K (2007). Understanding nursing research, New Delhi: Elsevier,
Heiman G. (2010) Basic Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, Cengage Learning
Lee, P. (2006) Understanding the basic aspects of research, Cengage Learning
Nies, M. 2011, Community/Public Health Nursing: Promoting the Health of Populations, 5th Edition. W.B. Saunders Company.
