Developing a Measure in a Pinch? Online Focus Groups to Address Content Validity (Poster 18)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Two
  In Poster Session: Measurement Theory and Application 1

Abstract

Practitioners, in particular, constructing assessment instruments benefit from methods to improve validity. There are various statistical methods available; however, many are not easily accessed in practice. Cognitive interviews and focus groups are a viable option to increase validity that is feasible in school-based and other practical settings. These are techniques that are also effective when resources, such as time and financial, are limited. These techniques and their usefulness are presented and also of importance highlighted in terms of the recent COVID-19 pandemic where world-wide researchers were in the position of needing to gather data quickly thus, necessitating novel but appropriate measures of validity. Examples are included to illustrate these points.

Authors

• Aarti P. Bellara, Western Carolina University
  Presenting Author

• Emily Winter, Fairfield University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Melissa A. Bray, University of Connecticut
  Non-Presenting Author