Document Detail


Integrating validity theory with use of measurement instruments in clinical settings.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16178998     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To present validity concepts in a conceptual framework useful for research in clinical settings. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We present a three-level decision rubric for validating measurement instruments, to guide health services researchers step-by-step in gathering and evaluating validity evidence within their specific situation. We address construct precision, the capacity of an instrument to measure constructs it purports to measure and differentiate from other, unrelated constructs; quantification precision, the reliability of the instrument; and translation precision, the ability to generalize scores from an instrument across subjects from the same or similar populations. We illustrate with specific examples, such as an approach to validating a measurement instrument for veterans when prior evidence of instrument validity for this population does not exist. CONCLUSIONS: Validity should be viewed as a property of the interpretations and uses of scores from an instrument, not of the instrument itself: how scores are used and the consequences of this use are integral to validity. Our advice is to liken validation to building a court case, including discovering evidence, weighing the evidence, and recognizing when the evidence is weak and more evidence is needed.
Authors:
P Adam Kelly; Kimberly J O'Malley; Michael A Kallen; Marvella E Ford
Related Documents :
23453898 - Proximal interphalangeal joint injection through a volar approach: anatomic feasibility...
11967678 - Sequence and task analysis of instrument use in common laparoscopic procedures.
16672728 - Psychometric properties of an abbreviated instrument of the five-factor model.
21366288 - Conceptual approach to renewable barrier film design based on wood hydrolysate.
8407558 - Guidelines for analysis and reporting of clinical trials in oncology.
22211178 - Evaluating phenotypic data elements for genetics and epidemiological research: experien...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Health services research     Volume:  40     ISSN:  0017-9124     ISO Abbreviation:  Health Serv Res     Publication Date:  2005 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-09-23     Completed Date:  2005-11-29     Revised Date:  2009-11-18    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0053006     Medline TA:  Health Serv Res     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1605-19     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
METRIC Health Services Research and Development Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Data Collection / methods*
Decision Making*
Health Services Research / methods*
Humans
Psychometrics / methods*
Reproducibility of Results*
United States
Veterans / statistics & numerical data
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Validity of measures is no simple matter.
Next Document:  Measuring diagnoses: ICD code accuracy.