topic 5: reliability

Question 1

define reliability

Answer 1

the extent to which if the research was repeated it would produce similar or identical results

Question 2

positivism on reliability

Answer 2

quantitative methods are higher in reliability

Question 3

why might quantitative methods be high in reliability?

Answer 3

— more structure, EASIER TO REPEAT

— more likely to OPERATIONALISE clearly, resulting in being easier to repeat and get similar results

— creates STANDARDISED data in stats form, results are more likely to be similar

Question 4

why may qualitative methods be low in reliability?

Answer 4

— LACK OF STRUCTURE (difficult to repeat)

— DATA NEEDS INTERPRETATION (highly subjective and vulnerable to bias)

— LONG TIME: difficult to give up years to replicate lengthy observations e.g. venkatesh