6.6: Electroencephalogram (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs)

Question 1

Researchers decided to compare the brain activity of elderly (70 years old) individuals during sleep with the activity of young adults (11 – 25 years old). They used EEG measurements for the comparison.

Explain why the data gathered may lack reliability and validity (4 marks)

Answer 1

The data gathered may not reflect internal validity (whether it measures what it claims to measure), because the method used to measure brain activity (EEG) could affect sleep patterns

Question 2

Researchers decided to compare the brain activity of elderly (70 years old) individuals during sleep with the activity of young adults (11 – 25 years old). They used EEG measurements for the comparison.

Explain why the data gathered may lack reliability and validity (4 marks).
The data gathered may not reflect internal validity (whether it measures what it claims to measure), because the method used to measure brain activity (EEG) could affect sleep patterns.
What does EEG involve?

Answer 2

EEG involves having electrodes applied to the scalp

Question 3

Researchers decided to compare the brain activity of elderly (70 years old) individuals during sleep with the activity of young adults (11 – 25 years old). They used EEG measurements for the comparison.

Explain why the data gathered may lack reliability and validity (4 marks).
The data gathered may not reflect internal validity (whether it measures what it claims to measure), because the method used to measure brain activity (EEG) could affect sleep patterns.
EEG involves having electrodes applied to the scalp, which might mean what?

Answer 3

EEG involves having electrodes applied to the scalp, which might mean that the participants being tested would not sleep as they normally would

Question 4

Researchers decided to compare the brain activity of elderly (70 years old) individuals during sleep with the activity of young adults (11 – 25 years old). They used EEG measurements for the comparison.

Explain why the data gathered may lack reliability and validity (4 marks).
The data gathered may not reflect internal validity (whether it measures what it claims to measure), because the method used to measure brain activity (EEG) could affect sleep patterns.
EEG involves having electrodes applied to the scalp, which might mean that the participants being tested would not sleep as they normally would.
Therefore, what?

Answer 4

Therefore, the sleep responses recorded may not be typical and thus may not be internally valid