<![CDATA[Research quality is largely determined by the quality of the research instruments used to collect data. In practice, many novice researchers and students construct instruments carelessly, merely copying templates without adapting them to their research variables, and often skip the try-out stage. This condition is reflected in a 2024 Populix survey of 2,793 final-year Indonesian students, in which 45% admitted to manipulating thesis data. This article aims to examine the definition, types, systematic steps of construction, and testing procedures of research instruments through validity and reliability tests. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach through library research, collecting data from research methodology books and national and international journal articles on research instruments, validity, and reliability published between 2011 and 2024, analyzed through content analysis. The results show that research instruments are divided into two major types: quantitative instruments (questionnaires, measurement scales, and tests) and qualitative instruments (the researcher as the main instrument, supported by interview guides, observation guides, and documentation guides). The construction of a good instrument follows five systematic steps: defining variables, formulating indicators, developing a blueprint, writing items, and validating content through expert judgment. Furthermore, the feasibility of an instrument must be confirmed through validity testing (content, construct, and empirical validity) and reliability testing (Cronbach's Alpha, KR-20, and KR-21). This article is expected to serve as a practical guide for novice researchers in constructing valid and reliable research instruments]]>
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