What is the main concern when sociologists consider whether research actually measures what it was supposed to measure?
A) reliability
B) validity
C) generalizability
D) accuracy

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When sociologists consider whether research actually measures what it was supposed to measure, the main concern is validity. Reliability refers to the consistency of results, generalizability to the extent to which findings can be applied to other populations or situations, and accuracy to the degree of correspondence between the observed and true values. However, validity is the most important concept for testing the accuracy of research measures. Validity refers to the degree to which a concept, construct, or measurement accurately reflects the real world phenomenon it is intended to measure. In other words, validity is concerned with whether a measure accurately captures what it is supposed to capture.

What Is the Main Concern When Sociologists Consider Whether Research