This makes reliability very important for both social sciences and physical sciences. Well, researchers would have a very hard time testing hypotheses and comparing data across groups or studies if each time we measured the same variable on the same individual we got different answers. So, why do we care? Why make such a big deal about reliability? That instrument could be a scale, test, diagnostic tool as reliability applies to a wide range of devices and situations. Not only do you want your measurements to be accurate (i.e., valid), you want to get the same answer every time you use an instrument to measure a variable. Think of reliability as consistency or repeatability in measurements. Whenever a measurement has a potential for error, a key criterion for the soundness of that measurement is reliability. Test-retest reliability of the MMQL-Adolescent Form demonstrated that the instrument was extremely stable in all scales tested.ĬONCLUSION: Overall, the data provide evidence for the validity and reliability of the MMQL-Adolescent Form as a comprehensive, multidimensional self-report instrument for measuring HRQL among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer.Some variables are straightforward to measure without error – blood pressure, number of arrests, whether someone knew a word in a second language.īut many – perhaps most – are not. There were high correlations between the MMQL scales and similar CHQ domains. The MMQL was able to discriminate between the three study populations. RESULTS: Internal consistency reliability was in the acceptable range for this instrument.
Stability of the MMQL was tested by readministering the MMQL-Adolescent Form 2 weeks later. Discriminate validity was determined by comparing healthy children with children with cancer either on or off therapy. Construct validity was conducted by comparing similar constructs in the MMQL-Adolescent Form and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ). Factor analysis was conducted to refine the instrument.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: To validate the instrument, the MMQL-Adolescent Form was administered to 397 adolescents (129 healthy individuals, 110 patients with cancer undergoing therapy, and 158 subjects off therapy for cancer). This report focuses on the development and testing of the MMQL-Adolescent Form. The MMQL is being developed for three age groups to address the changing developmental need of different ages: MMQL-Youth (8 to 12 years), MMQL-Adolescent (13 to 20 years), and MMQL-Young Adult (21 to 45 years). The Minneapolis-Manchester Quality of Life Instrument (MMQL) is a standardized patient self-report instrument designed to assess HRQL in survivors of childhood cancer. PURPOSE: With improvement in survival after childhood cancer, increasing emphasis is being placed on the impact of treatment and its sequelae on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of survivors.
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