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Warding off a tyranny of reliability and validity
Edward Krupat1, Judith A Hall2
1Dept. of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Patient Education and Counseling
|February 17, 2021
Summary
Healthcare communication research faces challenges with reliability and validity, potentially stifling novel inquiry. A balanced approach is urged, prioritizing both rigor and creativity in instrument development.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Communication
- Medical Education Research
Background:
- Healthcare communication research draws from diverse educational backgrounds.
- A potential orthodoxy in research culture, particularly from education schools, impacts the understanding of reliability and validity.
- The terms 'reliable' and 'valid' are sometimes used loosely or interchangeably in healthcare communication and medical education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically examine the prevailing research culture surrounding reliability and validity in healthcare communication.
- To caution against the "tyranny of reliability and validity" potentially hindering novel research.
- To advocate for a more balanced approach integrating creativity and rigor in research instrument development.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of research practices in healthcare communication.
- Discussion of the influence of educational training on research methodology.
- Examination of the pressures faced by researchers regarding instrument validation.
Main Results:
- The concepts of reliability and validity are sometimes misapplied or overemphasized in healthcare communication research.
- Researchers may feel compelled to use existing, but potentially unsuitable, instruments due to fear of editorial rejection.
- This adherence to established instruments can stifle the development of unique tools for new research questions.
Conclusions:
- A "tyranny of reliability and validity" may negatively impact the field's progress and originality.
- Researchers should be encouraged to develop and utilize novel instruments when appropriate, even if they lack prior validation.
- Fostering a research environment that values both creativity and methodological rigor is essential for advancing healthcare communication scholarship.
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