A psychometric toolbox for testing validity and reliability.
OBJECTIVE
To review the concepts of reliability and validity, provide examples of how the concepts have been used in nursing research, provide guidance for improving the psychometric soundness of instruments, and report suggestions from editors of nursing journals for incorporating psychometric data into manuscripts.


METHODS
CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases were searched using key words: validity, reliability, and psychometrics. Nursing research articles were eligible for inclusion if they were published in the last 5 years, quantitative methods were used, and statistical evidence of psychometric properties were reported. Reports of strong psychometric properties of instruments were identified as well as those with little supporting evidence of psychometric soundness.


RESULTS
Reports frequently indicated content validity but sometimes the studies had fewer than five experts for review. Criterion validity was rarely reported and errors in the measurement of the criterion were identified. Construct validity remains underreported. Most reports indicated internal consistency reliability (alpha) but few reports included reliability testing for stability. When retest reliability was asserted, time intervals and correlations were frequently not included.


CONCLUSIONS
Planning for psychometric testing through design and reducing nonrandom error in measurement will add to the reliability and validity of instruments and increase the strength of study findings. Underreporting of validity might occur because of small sample size, poor design, or lack of resources. Lack of information on psychometric properties and misapplication of psychometric testing is common in the literature.
DeVon
Holli A
HA
Niehoff School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60153, USA. hdevon@luc.edu
Block
Michelle E
ME
Moyle-Wright
Patricia
P
Ernst
Diane M
DM
Hayden
Susan J
SJ
Lazzara
Deborah J
DJ
Savoy
Suzanne M
SM
Kostas-Polston
Elizabeth
E
D015982:Bias; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D035081:Editorial Policies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D017712:Peer Review, Research; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D010934:Planning Techniques; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors