Quantitative Design
When you are planning on a study, you always want to ensure that the evidence obtained enables you to address the research problem effectively, logically, and as unambiguously as possible. If you begin the investigation too early, without thinking critically about what information is required, the overall problem may not be adequately addressed and the validity of the study will be undermined. Research design integrates all elements needed for the study to maximize validity and balance feasibility prior to beginning the data collection. Our quantitative design planning includes descriptive and experimental designs to provide you a blueprint for the collection, measurement, and analysis of data.
Instrument Development
What is it? Instruments, which can also be referred to as surveys, questionnaires, or assessments, are used to capture an experience, a behavior, and/or feelings about a topic. Instrument development refers to the development of new measurement scales, while instrument modification or enhancement may refer to improving existing instrument. Developing a reliable and valid instrument requires multiple steps, including generating initial sets of questions, turning individual items into measuring constructs, and evaluating if the instrument measures what it intends. If done appropriately, this complex process incorporates multiple content experts, recruits a large sample size, and involves advanced statistical analysis. Upon completing instrument development steps, you may also need to replicate the procedure in a new independent sample to enhance the generalizability of the instrument. As such, it could be timing-consuming and costly.
As science advances and novel problems are identified, new scales or instruments become necessary. It is always recommended to use and improve an existing instrument, as thousands of scales (health behavior, social, psychology, etc.) have been developed. Regardless of whether you are improving an existing instrument or embarking on instrument development, let our consultants help you to determine what steps should be carried out.
How can we help you?
- Provide suggestions on how to identify domains
- Design and help generate items, including guiding to generate questions and answers
- Modify items
- Determine sample size used in different steps of instrument development
- Perform reliability testing
- Perform validity testing
- Confirm factors/constructs
- Align constructs and instruments with research questions
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Instrument development refers to the development of new measurement scales, while instrument modification or enhancement may refer to improving existing instrument.
Learn MoreSurvey Collection
Instrument development refers to the development of new measurement scales, while instrument modification or enhancement may refer to improving existing instrument.
Learn MoreInstrument Development
Instrument development refers to the development of new measurement scales, while instrument modification or enhancement may refer to improving existing instrument.
Learn MoreArticles and White Papers About Instrument Development
Addressing Bias and Confounding: 5 Strategies for Enhancing Validity in Instrument Development
Introduction Establishing validity requires a deliberate, multi-step process that includes operationalization, expert input, pilot testing, statistical analysis, and careful design and administration. These strategies work together to reduce error, improve construct alignment, and ensure the instrument accurately measures what it intends to. Measurement: Seeking Standardization Accuracy and consistency are foundational...
Read MoreFAQ About Instrument Development
Everyone knowingly or unknowingly misses out on major data opportunities. Determining the usefulness and costs of acquiring or ignoring data opportunities generally requires a multidisciplinerian team of individuals with diverse research background and connection to data systems and sources.
There are many academic, philanthropic, governmental, and professional sources of data that are available for free, at low costs as well as higher costs. Understanding the benefit, need, and fit for these alternate data sources will help determine which sources can be practical and profitable for your needs.
Data reviews will generally save time and money that reasonably and affordably replicate research that is helpful, necessary, or enlightening in areas of a program or project that will impede, expedite, or ignore critical components of whatever you are trying to do.
There is a nearly endless supply of data opportunities. Awareness of potentially untapped resources often requires a research background beyond the specific field in question.
There are multiple platforms for collecting, organizing and analyzing data across different types of operations and infrastructures. The best fit for a particular use involves balancing cost, simplicity, data platform collection approaches, and technical capacity to use particular analytic methods.
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