Tests on Authority, Validity and Reliability: An academic necessity

I am pushed to write by some to give an academic insight on the three factors on authority, validity and reliability as there were issues coming out as seem like to be opinions where everyone has his right. However, there are those who claim that thei idea is the truth or a his/her vision to be taken if not suggested to be part of one's belief.

A couple of days ago, some tens of members of the Orthodox church in Russia were encaving themselves to a deep and big cave as they claim on their computation for the armageddon was March 27, 2008. They placed themselves to a risky place. Yesterday some 28 members of htat church went out from the cave for better shelter and normalcy in life. Was there an armageddon last March 27?


Miracles of at least three are required for a candidate to be a Catholic saint before he or she can be declared first as blessed and to the fulliest sainthood. And these miracles have to undergo a deep study on the validity, reliability and confirmation of the trueness of the claimed miracles by their devotees and followers.

In Philippines, the popularity of Jun Lozada was not due to his personality or achievement as a professional. He claimed to be true in his Senate-sworned statement on the alleged bribery NBN scam. The Senate is still ongoing on their investigation although the statement was already done. They are waiting for Sec. Neri to give his final statement too to correlate with the other statements of witnesses. They need more prime witnesses to justify and correlate to previous statements before they can consider it as the "truth". More justifications from atuhority is a must.

In a thesis study, a single or simple statement presented without justification from certain authority is a simple idea of the mere writer. It is his own idea that he may want to present as a concept to others. But it remains as idea if there are nothing presented as conceptual framework and related studies to support his own idea. And those finished related studies that support his own idea have undergone some series of testings that their previous idea conteptualized in a study became a theory. An idea can be conceptualized and be proved in a study either descriptive or experimental to test the validity and reliability on those new ideas presented.

Hence, from a simple idea, justified by authorities and experts, passing to a test of validity and a test of reliability will prove one's idea to be considered as a theory and further studies for a theory to be considered as universal principle. But this theory is recommended for a furhter study if this is also applicalbe to other areas and factors to consider like being culture-free and is siginificantly true in other places and respondents too.

A presented standardized test made by a teacher was asked to be checked separately by at least 5 scholars and experts on that particular field or course by an adviser. Why? The teacher's own made test may be one sided and may not have considered all topics in the course. All topics may have been given a questoin but furthermore, all questions in the test may be all easy or all difficult if not moderate.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court revealed that only 2 could pass in one of the several courses in the Bar exam if they remain strict to have the 50% minimum. Perhaps, the questions given on that area or course are mostly difficult questions. Easy, moderate and difficult questions should be given for those slow learners, moderate learners and fast learners respectively considering the normal distribution of the examinees. This is one reason why experts have to test the validity of the teacher-made standardized test.

The test of reliability is more in-depth that statistical measures are necessary for it. That is the reason why there are survey questionnaires that come out and respondents of it must not be from mere or one side or culture. Respondents must be from all walks of life involved in the particular study. The statistics of it will determine if the problem is significantly reliable or not. This needs at least 3-hour lecture to be clearly understood by many.

In like manner, any statement of position paper presented as truth of theory must be presented and willingly scutinized by experts for a test of its validity, and reliability besides of being supported and justified by authority. This is a standard practice in academe, in legal cases, medical cases and even in theology. Even biblical verses have to justify the evangelical sermons of the pastors in their churches. If there are quotations from authority that supports your own idea, present it and have more to a dozen of authority to justify your idea. Grill your study or idea to a set of critiques and experts in order to prove your idea as correlated to the truth.

The Theory of Relativity of Albert Einstein even remains as a theory this time although it has been tested in most areas to qualify to be considered a universal principle.

As my insight, there is no problem if a claimed opinion is presented since we all have rights on opinions. But to present a position paper, or a prophesy received through dreams or whatever is a sensitive issue that must be subjected to testings too. If one is asking for the authority of one's claim, pls dont be hurt if asked for authority, validity and reliability to jsutify the claim. We all know we are all human (who have cut our communication from the Creator since the Fall) and have no direct authority to declare a "truth" or whatever.

Lastly, to remind ourselves, One recieved the Blessing from True Parents not because of his achievement or contribution as an elder member but because of True Parents who give the Blessing as gifts to man.