Which word best fits: 'The researchers used a rigorous methodology to ensure ______ results'?

• A. Accurate
• B. Valid
• C. Reliable
• D. Credible

Answer: (B)

Focus on whether the results actually reflect what the study aims to show. A rigorous methodology supports internal validity, ensuring that the conclusions follow from the design and data rather than from flaws or confounds. That’s why the results are valid: the study’s design and analysis justify the inferences about the phenomenon being investigated.

Accurate would emphasize closeness to a true value, which is about measurement precision rather than whether the conclusions about the research question are justified. Reliability is about getting the same results across repeated trials, which is about consistency rather than the overall correctness of the conclusions. Credible is about believability and trust, which can be aided by strong methods but doesn’t precisely capture the idea that the findings are appropriately warranted by the study design.