Survey validation refers to a process of psychometric evaluation to determine whether the survey produces results that are reliable and valid.
Results are considered reliable when they can demonstrate:
- internal consistency - that is, the questions in the scale all measure the same construct; and
- test-retest reliability - that is, individual responses to the questions are consistent over time
Results are considered valid when they can demonstrate:
- content validity - that is, the questions or items represent the full breadth of the construct being measured; and
- construct validity - that is, the survey measures the construct that it claims to measure.
Most of the survey scales available in the FlourishDx Work Design Survey have been validated in collaboration with a Western Australian University. These scales can be identified by the green "Validated" box next to their name, and should be your preferred scales when selecting which factors to include in your survey.
Some survey scales are 'in validation'. This means that psychometric analysis of reliability and validity has not yet been conducted and/or or peer reviewed, so it is unknown how well the scale represents the construct in question. The results from the use of any scales listed as "In Validation" should be interpreted with caution, focusing only on the specific questions included in the scale.