Use of Qualitative Methods to Enhance Content Validity

Qualitative methods to enhance the content validity of a new psychometric measure are described in this report. Qualitative data collected in interviews with respondents familiar with a concept helps to enrich and extend what is known about the concept and serves as a valuable source of items. Qualitative data were collected from 44 respondents on aspects of interpersonal relationships, including social support, reciprocity, and conflict. Data were used to generate items for the new measure, the Interpersonal Relationship Inventory. Content validity of items and of scales was judged by a panel of experts, and initial psychometric properties of items were evaluated before developing the final measure.