A seat at the table: addressing validity from critical perspective

ABSTRACT

This essay argues that those who create and consume research from a critical perspective should be concerned with issues of validity. An analysis of National and International Communication association journals publishing critical work found extremely limited attention to validity. Critical validity looks different than construct and measurement validity in a post-positivistic perspective. Specifically, a critical perspective needs to address construct, expert, transactional, and catalytic. Those who are evaluating critical research should focus on the extent to which researchers engage in authenticity, coherence, criticality, dialogue and self-reflection, plausibility, reflexivity, and transparency; examples of how these might be achieved are included.

KEYWORDS:

• Validity types
• validity criteria
• validity evaluation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The journals considered as part of this review were Communication, Culture, and Critique, Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies, and Critical Studies in Media Communiation.