Assessing And Improving Validity

Question 1

What is validity

Answer 1

Whether a measuring instrument or study measures what it claims to (is it true / legit)

Question 2

What is internal validity

Answer 2

A measure of whether results obtained are solely affected by changes in the variable being manipulated in a cause and effect relationship (e.g by the IV)

Question 3

What is external validity

Answer 3

A measure of whether data can be generalised to other situations outside of the research environment

Question 4

What are the 3 types of external validity

Answer 4

Ecological
Temporal
Population

Question 5

What’s ecological validity

Answer 5

Extent to which psychologists can apply their findings to other settings e.g real life
Low = Usually a weakness of lab studies due to artificial stimuli and setting

Question 6

What’s temporal validity

Answer 6

Extent to which research findings can be applied across time

Question 7

What’s population validity

Answer 7

Extent to which research can be applied to diff groups of people

Question 8

How can the validity of an experiment / test be assessed

Answer 8

Considering
Face validity
Concurrent validity

Question 9

What’s face validity

Answer 9

‘Eyeballing’
Does the test appear to measure what it says it measures?
E.g, if a questionnaire measuring depression asks appropriate questions, have appropriate items that rep what it’s like to have depression

Question 10

What is concurrent validity

Answer 10

Where the performance of the test in question is compared to a test that is already recognised and trusted in the same field
As both measures are looking to do the same thing, participants should score similar on each

Question 11

How to improve validity in experiments

Answer 11

1. Introduce single and double blind (gets rid of ppts or investigator effects)
2. Using a control group to check if the IV acc affects the DV
3. Use standardised instructions to minimise investigator effects

Question 12

How to improve validity of questionnaires

Answer 12

• use a lie scale to check the consistency of the participants responses

Lie scale = 2 questions asking the same thing but in a diff way e.g. sleep is bad disagree to agree versus I sleep well disagree to agree
- ensure ppts know their answers r gonna be anonymous to reduce social desirability bias

Question 13

How to improve the validity of observations

Answer 13

• covert observations
• using behavioural categories
• using qualitative methodology like case studies bc that has more ecological validity

Question 14

Ez way to Inc validity

Answer 14

Guarantee anonymity so people give honest answers & not feel embarrassed
Make conditions less obvious