Assess The Validity Of Research Methodologies

Moving on from the different research methodologies used in health and social care, I will now assess those research methodologies and come to a conclusion as to how valid the findings which are obtained through these methods are, and what could be done to improve the validity and reliability of data gained from such research methodologies. Some methods of research may give better and more reliable data than other methods. Each method comes with its advantages and disadvantages and some are more suitable for use in certain situations than others. Validity is about how accurate the results of a research are and whether the research piece has the ability to test and research the things it set out to achieve. Reliability is about how trustworthy …show more content…
This due to the full control the researcher has in obtaining the data, and the data collected is in relation to the researcher’s specific needs. For instance, the researcher can decide on the size of their respondents and the data obtained can be analyzed based on the researcher’s needs rather than relying on secondary research that has been interpreted by somebody else in a different way. Primary data is also often unbiased and more objective since it is obtained directly from the field as first-hand information. Since primary data involves methods such as surveys and interviewing, this allows the full participation of respondents, from which their feelings, opinions and perceptions towards the matter can be easily understood. Despite the many things associated with primary research which make it more valid and reliable, some of the weaknesses of this research methodology can affect the data’s overall validity and reliability. Data gained through primary means such as surveys and interviews can be inaccurate due to the respondents not being honest enough or not giving the full information as is expected by the researcher. In order for primary research to be a adequately valid and reliable, a lot of time and resources is required which is not easy. In such a case, lacking in time and resources may result in the achieved results being unreliable and