Context: Instrument validation is an important component to sound survey research methods.
Objective: The purpose of this article is to discuss the process of developing and validating an instrument to investigate an athletic trainer's attitudes and behaviors regarding the recognition and treatment of exertional heat stroke.
Background: Following up from our initial paper, which discussed the process of survey instrument design and validation, we present the practical application of those general guidelines as described by Netemeyer and colleagues.
Description: There are four basic steps to developing a valid survey instrument: (1) defining the construct, (2) item development and judgment, (3) designing and conducting studies to develop a survey, and (4) finalizing the instrument. Following these steps, we present our survey instrument used to evaluate an athletic trainer's knowledge and practice beliefs regarding exertional heat stroke.
Conclusions: Following the process of survey development and validation, we were able to develop an instrument to help understand attitudes held by athletic trainers regarding appropriate clinical practice behaviors in the treatment of exertional heat stroke.
Author notes
Dr. Burton is an Associate Professor of Sport Management in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Connecticut. Please address all correspondence to Laura Burton, PhD, University of Connecticut, 2095 Hillside Road, Unit 1110, Storrs, CT 06269-1110. laura.burton@uconn.edu
