When designing a research study, the researcher must make sure that the research study actually measures what it is supposed to measure. This concept is called
A. reliability
B. validity
C. communication
D. observation
E. sampling statistics
Answer: (B) Validity means that the study actually measures what it purports to measure. Reliability (A) means that the research instrument measures the same thing over and over. Communication (C) deals with a method of gathering data and reporting the findings. Observation (D) is a type of research. Finally, sampling statistics (E) refer to the means used to generalize a sample to a population.