7. RESEARCH METHODS (Validity)

Question 1

What is validity in psychology?

Answer 1

Validity refers to the extent to which a test or study accurately measures what it is intended to measure. It also considers how well the results can be generalized beyond the research setting.

Question 2

What is the difference between internal validity and external validity?

Answer 2

• Internal validity refers to the accuracy of the study in testing what it was designed to test, without interference from confounding variables.
• External validity refers to how well the results can be generalized beyond the study, including to other settings, populations, or times.

Question 3

What are the key factors that affect internal validity?

Answer 3

1. Operationalization of variables: Ensuring the variables are clearly defined and measured.
2. Confounding variables: Control of factors like demand characteristics, experimenter bias, and participant variables.
3. Experimental design: The type of design used (e.g., independent groups or repeated measures) can influence internal validity.

Question 4

What are demand characteristics, and how do they affect internal validity?

Answer 4

Demand characteristics occur when participants change their behaviour because they know the aim of the study. This leads to unnatural behaviour, reducing the internal validity of the results.

Question 5

How does experimenter bias affect internal validity?

Answer 5

Experimenter bias occurs when the researcher’s expectations influence how they record or interpret data. This can lead to inaccurate results, reducing internal validity.

Question 6

What is participant variability, and how does it impact internal validity?

Answer 6

Participant variability refers to differences between participants (e.g., age, personality) that can affect the results. If not controlled, it can confound the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, reducing internal validity.

Question 7

What is external validity?

Answer 7

External validity refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized beyond the research setting, including across different environments, populations, and times.

Question 8

What is ecological validity?

Answer 8

Ecological validity is the extent to which research findings can be generalized to real-world settings. Research conducted in a laboratory often has lower ecological validity due to artificial settings.

Question 9

What is population validity?

Answer 9

Population validity is the extent to which the findings of a study can be generalized to the target population. This depends on the sampling method and sample size used.

Question 10

What is historical/temporal validity?

Answer 10

Temporal validity refers to whether findings from a study remain valid over time. For example, a study’s results might be influenced by the social or cultural context of the time it was conducted.

Question 11

What is face validity?

Answer 11

Face validity is a subjective judgment about whether a test seems to measure what it claims to measure. It’s the most basic type of validity and relies on common sense.

Question 12

What is concurrent validity?

Answer 12

Concurrent validity occurs when a test produces similar results to another established measure of the same construct. For example, two IQ tests showing similar scores would have concurrent validity.

Question 13

How is concurrent validity assessed?

Answer 13

Concurrent validity is assessed by comparing the results of two tests that measure the same construct. The results from both tests should be strongly correlated for good concurrent validity.

Question 14

What is content validity?

Answer 14

Content validity is assessed by experts who review the test or research methodology to ensure it accurately measures the intended behaviour or construct.

Question 15

How can validity be improved in research?

Answer 15

Validity can be improved by:
* Revising or removing unclear questions (face validity).
* Improving research design to control for confounding variables (e.g., demand characteristics, experimenter bias).
* Using more representative sampling to enhance population validity.

Question 16

What is the importance of control groups in improving validity?

Answer 16

Control groups help eliminate the effect of confounding variables by allowing researchers to compare the experimental group with a group that doesn’t receive the experimental treatment, improving internal validity.

Question 17

What is the impact of investigator effects on validity?

Answer 17

Investigator effects are any influences that the researcher has on the participants that are not related to the independent variable. These can bias results, reducing both internal and external validity.

Question 18

How can demand characteristics be minimized in research?

Answer 18

Demand characteristics can be minimized by using techniques like single-blind (where participants do not know their condition) or double-blind (where neither the participants nor the experimenter know the condition), reducing bias.

Question 19

What is a single-blind procedure?

Answer 19

A single-blind procedure is where participants are unaware of which group or condition they are in. This reduces the impact of demand characteristics.

Question 20

What is a double-blind procedure?

Answer 20

A double-blind procedure is where neither the participants nor the researchers know which group or condition the participants are in. This reduces both demand characteristics and researcher bias.

Question 21

How can ecological validity be improved?

Answer 21

Ecological validity can be improved by using tasks with high mundane realism, conducting field or natural experiments, and ensuring the research setting reflects real-world conditions.

Question 22

What is the trade-off between internal and external validity?

Answer 22

There is often a trade-off between internal and external validity. Highly controlled studies (e.g., laboratory experiments) have high internal validity but may lack external validity due to artificial conditions. Field studies improve external validity but may lack control over confounding variables, reducing internal validity.

Question 23

When is it more important to prioritize internal validity over external validity?

Answer 23

Internal validity is more important when the goal of the study is to test the details of a theory. A controlled environment ensures that the study can accurately measure the effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable.

Question 24

When is external validity prioritized over internal validity?

Answer 24

External validity is prioritized when the study’s aim is to apply the findings to real-world situations. Studies that involve real-life settings and larger, more representative samples are often prioritized in applied research.