This document discusses the relationships between tests and scales, populations, reliability, and validity in quantitative research methods. It provides examples of using surveys and experiments to collect numerical data from populations about their opinions or the possible outcomes of situations. Specifically, it describes an experiment conducted using blog debates that surveyed a population of voters on their preferences for online debate formats using a Likert scale. The scale was found to be a valid measurement tool for that population and could potentially be used for other populations when collecting Internet-based responses.

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Main Question Post Wylie Tidwell 7/6/11 4:13 PM
Comment [1]: 2- or 3-paragraph analysis
of the relationships among tests and
In a Quantitative Method, there are surveys and experiments. If a survey is selected it scales, populations, and reliability and
validity. Additionally, post 1 or 2
would provide the researcher with numerical values that could show a population’s opinions or paragraphs describing the test and scale
examples from your discipline, including
the populations, the reliability and validity
trends in regards to a particular topic (Creswell, 2003, p. 153). Whereas, an experiment will of each test, and whether the test and
scale could be applied to another
population.
provide evidence of a possible outcome of a particular situation, within parameters set by the
researcher (Creswell, 2003, pp. 153-154). The relationships between test and scales, populations,
and reliability and validly is essential for quality research.
There are a few key reasons that we use test and scale in quantitative research. First, they
enable the researcher to represent various variables by a single score, which limits the hardships
of dealing with complex data (Frankfort-Nachmias & Nachmias, 2008, p. 415). Next, the results
gathered from scales and indexes are typically more accurate data (Frankfort-Nachmias &
Nachmias, 2008, p. 415). Lastly, they increase the reliability of the measurement overall
(Frankfort-Nachmias & Nachmias, 2008, p. 415). Remember, reliability is the errors that appear
in the research due to inconsistently in the observations taken using a particular measurement
(Frankfort-Nachmias & Nachmias, 2008, p. 154), thus helping with the empirical validity of the
experiment.
For example, in Miles Maguire’s article, “Online Debates in Oshkosh: Using the Blog to
Promote and Engaged Electorate”, the researcher used “a pair of experiments in using the blog
format as the mechanism for candidate debates” (Maguire, 2008, p. 327). The population for this
particular research was the electorate and they way that media has affected the ways debates are
viewed. The researcher states, “participatory journalism is a form of reporting that has been
enabled by the development of Web log software and that allows individual citizens –whether
trained as journalist or not –to take an active role in shaping the coverage of their communities

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(Maguire, 2008, p. 329). The Likert scale used for the research asked how they would like Blog
based debates based on the population gender and age. The research was valid because they
surveyed the whole district and allowed answers to be “no response”. This type scale could
definitely be used within other populations because if using Internet based response systems, this
is the best way for it to be done.

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References
Creswell, J. (2003). Research Design (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Frankfort-Nachmias, C., & Nachmias, D. (2008). Research Methods in the Social Sciences (7th
ed.). New York: Worth.
Maguire, M. (2008). Online Debates in Oshkosh: Using the Blog to Promote an Engaged
Electorate. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 5(3), 327-341.