ABC of Face Validity for Questionnaire
Nilesh Patel, Sharad Desai
Abstract
Validity of questionnaire means to verify what we are measuring is intended to measure? Which is usually done before administration of final questionnaire to the sample for the construct. The main four types of validity methods are: face, content, criterion-related and construct validity. So many times, the questionnaire studies are done without any validity check due to absence of knowledge for any kind of validity, time constrain, research scheme complexities, exceptional questionnaire and limitation of resources. One of four, face validity is simplest and easiest validity process but in absence of proper guideline, researches are avoiding to perform it and to take the subjective opinion about appearance and content of the questionnaire which provides substantial evidence for the validity of construct, which must be checked for any questionnaire before beginning of work. Hence, this paper describes systemic process for simplest face validity supported by literature and best practice with its limitations and recommendations. Limitation of use of Cohen's Kappa Index and Fleiss' kappa for evaluation of face validity of tool is explained. Described method can help to questionnaire research works in various fields like social, physiological, medicinal etc.