Use of Reliability Analysis in the Development of Data Collection tools/Questionnaires. By William Sebunje , 2023

Introduction

Reliability Analysis is a process of examining the interrelationships of variables /questions assigned to collect data on different indicators, or key strategic variables about a subject matter of scientific, social, economic and psychological investigations.

Scientifically, there are standard Statistical /Mathematical values established for one to base on to conclude on the reliability of the tool to be used in data collection . In most studies 0.7 Cronbach Alpha Value (70%) score is recommended, however in some studies, lower values may be considered under established factors such as discipline of the study, Target Respondent and time variations among others.

It should be noted that, there is a time when all the money is wasted, all the time is wasted, all the energy is wasted and when all the resources are wasted on collecting unreliable data (Bad

data).

Reliability test is the first step before final deployment of the tools to the actual field work, and many times others call it pretesting the tools.

Reliability Analysis is not only necessary, but it is avital step towards production of a good study report

report.

Greatly there are 10 Reasons for performing Reliability Analysis on every tool and these includes

1.????? Reliability Examines the relationships between the subjective matter and perception of the Respondent

2.????? It is one way of performing clarity Analysis of the questions

3.????? It is a tool used to examine relevancy of questions to the respondent

4.????? It is a tool used to examine completeness of the tool, sometimes an expansion is needed

5.????? The results attained are vital to determine the structure of questions, as some may need to be subjected to Rekert scale, ranks among others

6.????? With Reliability it is possible to clean up tools

7.????? Items can be grouped by where they belong, in case of misplacements

8.????? Reliability analysis can shape the level of Statistical analysis to be performed

9.????? Good Reliability Results Shape Good Statistical Research Models

10.? The type of A Research Model is greatly linked to reliability Results, bad results bring up weak analytical models

Type of Projects that may require Researchers to fully subject their tools to reliability Analysis. These projects may include

1.????? Projects aimed at Proving Project Models /Frameworks

2.????? Projects aimed at Developing Project Models /Frameworks

3.????? Academic project aimed at discovering and proving certain hypotheses

4.????? Research project aimed at proving a given theoretical l Framework

5.????? Intervention projects backed up with longitudinal evaluation approaches

6.????? Project baselines with multipipe experimental Analyses

7.????? Product development, assessment and Evaluation studies

8.????? Product performance and customer feedback studies

9.????? In-depth Analyses on pre and pre based studies with similar Respondents

10.? Relational studied aimed to drawing empirical conclusions

Key advantages of Preforming reliability analysis

1.????? Final Data Analysis is easy to perform

2.????? Models are easy to compute

3.????? We generate accurate and defendable outputs

4.????? Confidence of the researcher is raised

5.????? It is easy to draw analytical conclusions

6.????? Recommendations are always easy to draw and to rely on