TY - JOUR
T1 - Instrument selection for randomized controlled trials
T2 - Why this and not that?
AU - Records, Kathie
AU - Keller, Colleen
AU - Ainsworth, Barbara
AU - Permana, Paska
N1 - Funding Information:
This material is based upon work supported in part by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The contents do not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government. Funding acknowledgement: Supported by the National Institutes of Health, 1R01NR010356 Keller (PI).
PY - 2012/1
Y1 - 2012/1
N2 - A fundamental linchpin for obtaining rigorous findings in quantitative research involves the selection of survey instruments. Psychometric recommendations are available for the processes for scale development and testing and guidance for selection of established scales. These processes are necessary to address the validity link between the phenomena under investigation, the empirical measures and, ultimately, the theoretical ties between these and the world views of the participants. Detailed information is most often provided about study design and protocols, but far less frequently is a detailed theoretical explanation provided for why specific instruments are chosen. Guidance to inform choices is often difficult to find when scales are needed for specific cultural, ethnic, or racial groups. This paper details the rationale underlying instrument selection for measurement of the major processes (intervention, mediator and moderator variables, outcome variables) in an ongoing study of postpartum Latinas, Madres para la Salud [Mothers for Health]. The rationale underpinning our choices includes a discussion of alternatives, when appropriate. These exemplars may provide direction for other intervention researchers who are working with specific cultural, racial, or ethnic groups or for other investigators who are seeking to select the 'best' instrument. Thoughtful consideration of measurement and articulation of the rationale underlying our choices facilitates the maintenance of rigor within the study design and improves our ability to assess study outcomes.
AB - A fundamental linchpin for obtaining rigorous findings in quantitative research involves the selection of survey instruments. Psychometric recommendations are available for the processes for scale development and testing and guidance for selection of established scales. These processes are necessary to address the validity link between the phenomena under investigation, the empirical measures and, ultimately, the theoretical ties between these and the world views of the participants. Detailed information is most often provided about study design and protocols, but far less frequently is a detailed theoretical explanation provided for why specific instruments are chosen. Guidance to inform choices is often difficult to find when scales are needed for specific cultural, ethnic, or racial groups. This paper details the rationale underlying instrument selection for measurement of the major processes (intervention, mediator and moderator variables, outcome variables) in an ongoing study of postpartum Latinas, Madres para la Salud [Mothers for Health]. The rationale underpinning our choices includes a discussion of alternatives, when appropriate. These exemplars may provide direction for other intervention researchers who are working with specific cultural, racial, or ethnic groups or for other investigators who are seeking to select the 'best' instrument. Thoughtful consideration of measurement and articulation of the rationale underlying our choices facilitates the maintenance of rigor within the study design and improves our ability to assess study outcomes.
KW - Instrument
KW - Intervention
KW - Randomized controlled trials
KW - Reliability
KW - Validity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84855339882&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84855339882&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cct.2011.09.006
DO - 10.1016/j.cct.2011.09.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 21986392
AN - SCOPUS:84855339882
SN - 1551-7144
VL - 33
SP - 143
EP - 150
JO - Contemporary Clinical Trials
JF - Contemporary Clinical Trials
IS - 1
ER -