Independent variable: This variable influences or causes a change in the dependent variable.ĭependent variable: This variable changes in an experiment because of the independent variable's influence. Sample size: This is a measured number of people in a study that represents a larger population.Ĭontrol variable: This is the variable in research that remains consistent throughout the study. While reading about measurement validity and reliability, it may be helpful to review the following terms: Related: Quality Data: Definition, Measurements and Benefits Terms to know in measurement validity vs. For results to be valid, research data collection methods must also appear reliable and reproducible. It's important for methods and results to have validity so the research results can be useful and applied in various settings. Valid results display accuracy in research methods and results. Measurement validity is the extent to which the data or results of a research method represent the intended variable.