Recently on social media a photo surfaced of a loaf of bread, the packing said it was 700g but the electronic scale weighed the loaf to be a mere 460g, with a loss of 240g. Immediately the supermarket chain was blamed for foul play. No one questioned the integrity of the photo or the person who sent it, nor the scale, nor the calibration nor the tare of the scale. The validity of the facts and reliability of the source was assumed to be factual, true and without a doubt. I found it questionable. Most accepted the photo at face value to be valid and reliable... because we believe the individual would not deliberately 'fake' a photo to harm a corporate entity, or would they?
Joppe (2000, p.1) as quoted in Golafshani (2003) defined reliability as: "The extent to which results are consistent over time and an accurate representation of the total population under study is referred to as reliability and if the results of a study can be reproduced under a similar methodology, then the research instrument is considered to be reliable" Joppe (2000, p.1) continued to provide the following explanation for validity in quantitative research: "Validity determines whether the research truly measures that which it was intended to measure or how truthful the research results are. In other words, does the research instrument allow you to hit "the bull’s eye" of your research object? Researchers generally determine validity by asking a series of questions, and will often look for the answers in the research of others." As a researcher both qualitative and quantitative it is imperative that your study adheres to these two standards. In a way, it tests the 'truth' and 'believability' of your study. In everyday life, these standards are principles to which we should test the truth and evidence presented to us. I had an issue with this mentality that we abandon the scientific method of testing evidence and accepting everything on social media to be tried and tested. Most of the arguments were bias in that they assumed the corporation to be evil and seeking to exploit customers. As a disorder consultant, I had a problem with this firstly the public is taking the photo at face value and accepted it as full factual truth. Secondly not all the variables have been calculated. Has the scale been calibrated in any way, was it zeroed (tared) or was it set to another item beforehand, was it altered or tampered with. Thirdly for this [single] photo to be empirical evidence the same test must be done on multiple loaves of bread, on different types scales [electronic, analogue and even old counterweight scale. Fourth, it made no logical sense to spread bad news about a company without the full evidence, unless there was a hidden benefactor. Someone who gained from this event. Finally, Without sound evidence and clear method of testing to prove what is the truth, the claim can be both false and true [ schrödinger's cat of quantum dynamics, two forms of contradicting result can exist ] As a researcher and a fan of the scientific method I sought out to check the validity and reliability of the weight of a loaf of bread from that specific supermarket, to see the test... https://www.instagram.com/p/BeAnfyUBIIL/?taken-by=koekemoerhannes What is important to understand with any form of information in today's world where we are overloaded with data [fake and real] is to test it. Is it valid - will the answer be the same after the multiple questions and investigations have been asked? Is it Reliable - If the test was conducted over and over if the same question is asked does it deliver the same result. If I weighed 800 loaves of bread on three different scales how consistent will my results be. It should be understood that Validity and Reliability work hand in hand. In a world where the truth is 'cooked' up in a backyard, sources are not checked, I's are not dotted and T's are not crossed, the responsibility of testing facts and evidence falls upon the public. H Koekemoer References https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155444709023198&id=793078197 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/fun/woolworths-bread-weight/?fb_comment_id=1561869260601127_1563797197075000&comment_id=1562145330573520&reply_comment_id=1563797197075000#f1eb8e22ac3cb58 Golafshani, N. (2003). Understanding reliability and validity in qualitative research. The Qualitative Report, 8(4), 597-606. Retrieved [2018/01/21], from http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR8-4/golafshani.pdf Joppe, M. (2000). The Research Process. Retrieved February 25, 1998, from http://www.ryerson.ca/~mjoppe/rp.htm
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