Measurement Matters: Improving Measurement Practices in Nursing Education Research

Measurement is a fundamental but often overlooked component of research design and scientific inquiry. In quantitative study designs, the data that are collected, the statistical analyses conducted, and the conclusions drawn from those analyses all hinge on the validity, reliability, and appropriateness of measurements taken during the investigation. Missteps in the measurement process can undermine the validity of a study's findings and in doing so, efforts to advance the science of nursing education will fall short. This month's Methodology Corner article highlights several important measurement-related considerations for nursing education researchers seeking to build the evidence base-the body of knowledge about nursing education-on which instructional, curricular, policy, and planning decisions are made. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(5):257-259.].