Analyzing the Values and Motives Questionnaire

Reliability and Validility

Validity is the degree to which an instrument or measurement tool measures what it is intended to measure with accuracy. Building confidence in the study findings and their repeatability in other situations depends heavily on their reliability (Nájera & Gordon, 2019). To assess reliability, test-retest reliability was applied, and to assess validity, criterion, and construct validity were applied.

Test-retest reliability is a statistical metric that assesses whether scores from the same subjects stay consistent when they are tested again under similar conditions using the same instrument. It facilitates the assessment of the dependability and long-term reliability of test or measurement instrument outputs by researchers and practitioners. Cronbach’s Alpha (internal consistency reliabilities) was computed to inform reliability. Cronbach’s alpha has a range of 0 to 1. Values near 1 signify strong internal consistency, indicating that the test’s items have a strong correlation with one another, and values near 0 indicate low internal consistency, indicating that the test’s items may not be accurately measuring the same construct.

The degree to which a psychological measure, such as a test or evaluation, coincides with an external criterion or outcome that it is intended to predict or relate to is known as criterion validity. Two primary categories of criteria validity exist: Concurrent validity is the quality of scores from a newly developed test that shows a strong correlation with the results of an earlier test measuring the same construct, and predictive validity is the quality of test results that show a reliable prediction of future behavior or results. The degree to which a test captures the theoretical construct or characteristic that it is designed to capture is known as construct validity. It evaluates if the test faithfully captures the underlying theoretical idea or construct. The intercorrelation between the VMI scales was explored to determine whether validity exists within the Values and Motives Questionnaire.

The areas of concern for the Cronbach alpha coefficients

When every constituent item response is demonstrated to have a positive correlation with the scale score, the scale is internally consistent. A scale’s coefficient alpha will be high if its items exhibit strong correlations with both the overall scale score and each other (Amirrudin et al., 2020). As a result, a high coefficient alpha suggests that the scale’s items are measuring nearly the same thing, whereas a low alpha suggests that the scale’s items are measuring distinct things or that an error may be present. Since only some of the eleven VMI value scales are above the 0.7 threshold, an acceptable measurement error is deemed to be present.

These scales all have Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.52 to 0.83, indicating varying degrees of internal consistency. An assessment of the degree of inaccuracy in the observed scores of a test or scale is provided by the Standard inaccuracy of Measurement (SEM) in relation to Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient (Doval et al., 2023). The scales with a lower Cronbach’s alpha of less than 0.7 suggest weaker internal consistency, and they also have a higher Standard Error of Measurement, indicating a higher number of errors in the scale scores.

How size and nature of the Population influence constructs that the tempts attempt to measure.

To account for the variety of viewpoints, experiences, and behaviors present in the community, broader constructs may be required in more extensive and diverse populations. The population’s makeup, particularly its cultural heritage, can have an impact on meaningful and relevant notions. A questionnaire created for one cultural group may not be suitable or beneficial for another. Thus, identifying the constructs to be measured requires an awareness of the population’s cultural environment.

The population size might influence the required sample size for the questionnaire. A bigger sample size could be necessary to guarantee representative results for a wider population. The constructs being tested must have enough flexibility to accommodate population variances. The dimensions that a questionnaire seeks to measure depend critically on the size and makeup of the sample. When creating and distributing questionnaires, researchers must consider cultural variances, demographic variety, and sample size to guarantee validity and reliability.

Opinion of the Cronbach’s test

The questionnaire scales’ internal consistency and reliability are shown by Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, which range from 0.52 to 0.83. This suggests that while some scales show good reliability, others might need more development or validation. When analyzing the questionnaire findings, it is crucial to consider the degree of inaccuracy present in each scale score, as shown by the corresponding Standard inaccuracy of Measurement (SEM) values, which range from 0.82 to 1.40.

Overall, the questionnaire’s reliability is satisfactory; nevertheless, to maximize the instrument’s validity and usefulness in accurately capturing the desired constructs, efforts should be made to minimize measurement error and increase the consistency of specific scales. I would look over the items with high SEM and low Cronbach’s alpha and examine whether the concepts in these items and the remainder of the questionnaire make sense conceptually. Consider changing or substituting items that are deemed to be conceptually ambiguous or poorly phrased with ones that more accurately convey the intended construct.

References

Amirrudin, M., Nasution, K., & Supahar, S. (2020). Effect of Variability on Cronbach Alpha Reliability in Research Practice. Jurnal Matematika, Statistika Dan Komputasi, 17(2), 223–230. https://doi.org/10.20956/jmsk.v17i2.11655

Doval, E., Carme Viladrich, & Ariadna Angulo-Brunet. (2023). Coefficient Alpha: The Resistance of a Classic. PubMed, 35(1), 5–20. https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2022.321

Nájera Catalán, H. E., & Gordon, D. (2019). The Importance of Reliability and Construct Validity in Multidimensional Poverty Measurement: An Illustration Using the Multidimensional Poverty Index for Latin America (MPI-LA). The Journal of Development Studies, 56(9), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2019.1663176

Psytech International Limited( N.D) Values and Motives Questionnaire Measures of Personality and Values. Technical Manual.