INSTRUMENTATION

An important part of the research study is the

instrument in gathering the data because the quality of
research output depends to a large extent on quality of
research instruments used. Instrument is the generic term
that researchers use for a measurement device like
survey, test, questioners and many others. To help
distinguish between instrument and instrumentation,
consider that the instrument is the device and
instrumentation is the course of action which is the
process of developing, testing and using the device.
 Researchers can choose the types of
instruments to use based on the research
questions and objectives. There are to broad
categories of instrument namely; 1) researcher-
completed instruments and 2) subject-
completed instruments. Examples are shown on
the following table.
Research-completed instrument Subject-completed instrument

Rating scales Questionnaires

Interview schedules/guides Self check list

Tally sheets Attitude scales

Flow charts Personality inventories
Performance check lists Achievement/aptitude tests
Time-and-motion logs Projective devices
Observation forms Socio metric devices
 A critical portion of the research study is
the instrument used to gather data. The
validity of the finding and conclusions resulting
from the statistical instruments will depend
greatly on the characteristics of your
instruments. We will discuss the general
criteria of good research instruments which
are validity and reliability.
VALIDITY
 Validity refers to the extent to which the instrument measures what it
intends to measures and performs as it is design to perform. It is unusual
and nearly impossible that an instrument is 100% validity is generally
measured in degrees. As a process, validation involves collecting and
analysing data to assess the accuracy of an instrument.
 There are numerous statistical test and
measures to assess the validity of quatative
instruments that generally involves pilot testing.
There are three major types of validity. These
are:
● Content validity
● Construct validity
● Criterion validity
Table 1: types of Validity
Types of Validity Description

● Content ● The extent to which a research instrument

Validity accurately measures all aspects of a construct

● Construct ● , the extent which a research instrument(or

Validity tool) measures the intended construct

● Criterion ● The extent to which a research instrument is

Validity related to other instrument that measure the
same variables.
Content Validity
Looks at whether the instrument adequately
covers all the content that it should be with respect to
the variable. In other words, it refers to the
appropriateness of the content of an instrument. It
answers the question “Do the measures (question,
observation logs, etc.), accuracy assess what want to
know?” or “Does the instrument cover the entire domain
related to the variable or construct if was designed to
measure?”
Construct Validity
Refers to whether you can draw
inferences about test scores related to the
concept being studied.
Three types:
● Homogeity
● Convergence
● Theory evidence
Homogeneity
This means that instrument measures one construct

Convergence
Their oceans when the instrument measures concepts
similar to that of the other instruments. Although if there are no
similar instruments available this will not be possible to do.

Theory evidence
This is evident when behaviour is similar to theoretical
propositions of the construct measured in the instrument.
Criterion validity
A Criterion is any other instrument that measures
the same variable. Correlations can be conducted to
determine the extent to which the different instruments
measure the same variable.

Criterion validity is measured in three ways:

● Convergent validity
● Divergent valididty
● Predictive validity
Convergent validity
Shows that an instrument is highly correlated
with instruments measuring similar variables.

Example:
Genatic suicide correlated significantly and
positively with depression, loneliness and
hopelessness.
Divergent valididty
Shows that an instrument is poorly correlated to
instruments that measure different variables.

Example:
There should be a low correlation between an
instrument that measures motivation and one that measures
self-efficacy.
Predective validity
Means that the instrument should have high correlation with future
criterion.

Example:
A score of a high