When and Where Did I Find It: This weekend I spent a great deal of time considering the question of validity as it relates to our TEAC accreditation assessment system. In our last accreditation review, it was recommended that we work on developing a system for assessing the claims we make about our teachers at Naz that was managable as well as valid and reliable (Nazareth College TEAC Brief Submission, 2005).
What it means: Validity is a great example of a specialized word as it holds different shades of meaning depending on the context in which it is used. In qualitative and quantitative investigations, the investigator is required to prove that the results are robust and cannot be contested. If the results are solid and cannot easily be contested, then they are said to be valid.
Level of Familiarity: I have a general understanding of this word, but I always need to refresh myself with the distinct attributes of this word -- especially in relationship to/contrast with the term, reliable.
Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why? Yes. I have to know this word well as I am co-authoring our 2010 accreditation brief.
Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...if so WHO and WHY?: I do think those in the field of education should have a fairly well-developed understanding of this term. Knowing what validity means helps the individual to consider educational policies/mandates based on rigorous, scientific findings with a critical eye.
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