Three Essential Standards for High-Quality Social Science Studies: Validity, Reliability, and Ethics

What 3 main standards should a good study adhere to?

1. Possible to generalise2. Replicable3. Valid

A good study should adhere to the following three main standards:

1. Validity: Validity refers to the degree to which a study accurately measures or assesses what it claims to measure or assess. In other words, a study should accurately measure or assess the variable that it intends to measure. A study that lacks validity may produce false or misleading results. To ensure validity, researchers often use validated measures or tests and employ rigorous methods to control for potential confounding variables.

2. Reliability: Reliability refers to the consistency or stability of a study’s results over time and across different participants or observers. A study that lacks reliability may produce inconsistent, unreliable, or unstable results. To ensure reliability, researchers often employ reliable measures or tests, use standardized procedures, and train observers to ensure consistency in their observations.

3. Ethics: Ethics refers to the principles and standards of conduct that guide research with human or animal subjects. A good study should adhere to ethical guidelines to ensure that no harm is caused to participants or animals involved in the study. Ethical considerations include obtaining informed consent, protecting participants’ confidentiality, minimizing risk or discomfort, and ensuring humane treatment of animals (if applicable). Researchers should also consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of their research and weigh the costs and benefits before conducting a study.

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