Measure Twice, Cut down Error: A Process for Enhancing the Validity of Survey Scales
Author(s) -
Hunter Gehlbach,
Maureen E. Brinkworth
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
review of general psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.519
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1939-1552
pISSN - 1089-2680
DOI - 10.1037/a0025704
Subject(s) - credibility , psychology , survey data collection , process (computing) , applied psychology , test (biology) , data science , social psychology , computer science , epistemology , operating system , philosophy , statistics , mathematics , paleontology , biology
For years psychologists across many subfields have undertaken the formidable challenge of designing survey scales to assess attitudes, opinions, and behaviors. Correspondingly, scholars have written much to guide researchers in this undertaking. Yet, many new scales violate established best practices in survey design, suggesting the need for a new approach to designing surveys. This article presents 6 steps to facilitate the construction of questionnaire scales. Unlike previous processes, this one front loads input from other academics and potential respondents in the item-development and revision phase with the goal of achieving credibility across both populations. Specifically, the article describes how (a) a literature review and (b) focus group–interview data can be (c) synthesized into a comprehensive list to facilitate (d) the development of items. Next, survey designers can subject the items to (e) an expert review and (f) cognitive pretesting before executing a pilot test.
Accelerating Research
Robert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom
Address
John Eccles HouseRobert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom