WK 4 Essays

WK 4 Essays WK 4 Essay WK 4 Essay Question 1: Reliability pertains to the consistency of the measurement i.e. to have the same results each time under same conditions and same subjects under consideration. As reliability can not be calculated exactly each time so we estimate reliability. One type of this estimated reliability is Test-Retest Reliability i.e. to check to what extent a test will produce same result over a period or time. For example to test the â€Å"relationship between good neighborliness on health among Afro-American community of some selected New York ghettos† will be tested thrice over a period of over 2 years. Same measures will be emulated and administered thrice. The subjects and other correlative and variables will remain same and only hypotheses will tested again and again to check the reliability of the results. Reliability of measurements leads to the validity of the result i.e. strength of the conclusion(s). A test-pre-test reliability leads to Concurrent Validity i.e. a time-honored result of conclusion established after tests yielded same results each time. For example a clear relationship between good neighborliness and health is established with an adequate consistency level of .80 or greater. This .80 or greater level checked thrice lends validity to the conclusion. Question 2: Ethical Concern A: Human subjects under consideration must be informed of the experiment and must not be coerced to participate. This can lead to slight decrease in the reliability of the experiment and validity of the result to some extent as sampling will not remain same each time. If the quit level is too high then it can affect the reliability of the measurement too drastically. One way to address this ethical concern is that those subjects should be included in the sampling that could be willingly available next two times for test-retest. They should not have any relocation or any other objection on the experimentation during those two years. Ethical Concern B: Covert overt Research is another concern Research participants may change their behavior and modify their responses when they know that they are involved in experimentation. One way to overcome this concern is that participants should be informed of their participation in experimentation but must not be share the objectives and patterns of the research. Participant observation methods should be used for this purpose. Question 3: 1. Validity of the data collection instrument is in question as source of data in these articles is highly unreliable and it is not defined in concrete terms and no specifications are provided for this source of data. Source of data is Senator Clinton supporters in west Virginia but it is not clear whether this sampling represent whole west Virginia or a city. 2.  Opinion polls do follow the criterion for data collection as outlined for sociological research.   There source and sampling is not adequate enough to meet the necessities of sociological research. Mostly their sources are too wide and generic as they capture wider audience and groups. Their hypotheses are not properly formed and variable are not properly controlled. 3.  Reliability and validity can be checked to some extent. If readers are provided with the details of the instrument(s) utilized to collect the data. 4. Results presented by media reports and opinion polls do not undergo the reliability and validity tests. There is no test-pretest procedure over a period of time to lend concurrent validity to the conclusion. Furthermore, their results are molded by subjectivity i.e. personal biases and prejudices.