When looking at research your research must be reliable and valid.

Reliability - refers to whether your data collection methods, procedures and/or techniques would reproduce similar data given similar parameters on a different occasion if it was to be used by another researcher.

Things that can affect the reliability of the research;

1         Participant error – Factors which may alter the in which a participant performs

2         Participant bias – Factors which may produce a false response

3         Researcher error – Factors that may alter a researcher’s interpretation

4         Researcher bias – Factors that may affect the researcher’s objectivity when recording of responses

Validity has several areas that may impact whether your research is valid or not;

1         Construct validity – does you research measure what it claims to measure?

2         Internal validity – does your research demonstrate a casual relationship between 2 variables?

3         External validity – can the research findings be generalised to other relevant settings or groups?

When looking at a research paper and/or conducting your own research you must first ask yourself whether it is valid. The integrity of research is very important especially when it comes to defending your own research.