Enhancing Rigor in Nursing Research: A Critical Analysis of Reliability and Validity Reporting Trends

Abstract

Context: In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on ensuring the accuracy and reliability of research findings. However, the reporting of reliability and validity measures in nursing research articles (RAs) remains underexplored. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the current trends in reliability and validity reporting within nursing RAs and explore the implications of these practices. Methods: The study analyzed 42 RAs published between 2021 and 2022 from seven key nursing journals. The inclusion criteria were defined to incorporate empirical studies that employed tests and/or questionnaires. To maintain consistency and homogeneity, we exclusively included studies that relied on data collected through these methods. Title and abstract screening were performed by two independent reviewers, followed by a full-text review. Results: The study revealed a concerning lack of attention to reliability and validity reporting. A significant portion of the reviewed articles (19.05%) did not explicitly report reliability measures, and an even larger proportion (38.10%) failed to report validity measures. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for a significant change in how nursing research reports reliability and validity measures. By improving the clarity of these reports, researchers can enhance the trustworthiness of their findings and ensure that they can be applied more broadly in nursing practice.