JUST LOOK OVER Flashcards
When you are asked to evaluate “research” in psychology what could you be evaluating? Define what they are
A theory or a study
Theory - set of general principles used to explain specific observations and facts
Study - a specific investigation that a psychologist has carried out
What is internal validity?
STUDY
Thai types of validity is concerned with what goes on inside a study
The extent to which the researcher is measuring what was intended
- Demand characteristics
- Social desirability
- Extraneous variables
What is external validity?
STUDY
This type of validity is concerned with what goes on outside the study
The degree to which a research finding can be generalised outside the research situation
- Ecological validity
- Population validity
- Temporal validity
What are demand characteristics?
INTERNAL
STUDY
Cues from the researcher or research situation that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of the investigation
May lead to a participant changing their behaviour
What is social desirability?
INTERNAL
STUDY
Tendency for respondents to answer questions in a way that presents themselves in a better light rather than in a way that is honest
What are extraneous variables?
INTERNAL
STUDY
Any variable other than the IV that may have an effect on the DV if it is not controlled
If the study is conducted in a controlled setting then there will be a high control of extraneous variables whereas if it is conducted in the real world control may be low
What is ecological validity?
EXTERNAL
STUDY
The extent to which findings from a research study can be generated to other settings and situations
Can be low if conducted in artificial setting or task was unrealistic aka low mundane realism
What is population validity?
EXTERNAL
STUDY
The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other settings
Participants who take part in the study are not always representative of the target population
Consider gender, age and size of sample
Results may be gender or culturally biased
What is temporal validity?
EXTERNAL
STUDY
The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other historical times and eras
If research took place a long time ago, consider whether there have been many modern replications
What are ethical issues?
STUDY
Has the study caused psychological or physical harm
Was deception involved
Did researchers gain informed consent
Was there breaches of privacy and confidentiality
What are real world applications?
STUDY
Has the research been applied in a positive way
Is it useful
Does it have economic implications
Deception was an ethical issue within milgrams study, what would a PEE paragraph be for this? Include a counter argument
One issue is that deception occurred during milgrams experiment
This is seen through the thoughts of the participants as they thought they were actually harming the learner but really the shocks were fake
This is an issue because it could result in participants no longer wanting to be involved in an experiment in the future
However deception was needed in order for the experiment to be successful
Another ethical issue in milgrams obedience study is no protection from harm, what would a PEE paragraph be for this? Include a counter argument
Another ethical issue that is evident in milgrams experiment is no protection from harm
This is evident when the participants display sweating, trembling, stutters and some even had full blown seizures
This is an issue as it clearly demonstrates the experiment is having negative psychological effects on the participants
However the participants had the right to withdraw during any point in the study, and they were debriefed where they also said they felt happy to have taken party
Form a PEE paragraph with a counter argument to suggest milgrams obedience study has low internal validity
It has been argued milgrams study has low internal validity
It has been said the participants behaved in the way they did as they didn’t be believe in the set up, that voices could be heard come from the speakers rather than the other side of the wall and that the shocks were not real
If this is the case, then milgram was not testing what he had intended to test
However milgram himself reported that 70% of his participants said they believed the shocks were genuine
A strength of milgrams obedience study is that his findings have been recently replicated, form a PEE paragraph for this
A strength is that milgrams findings have been recently replicated
A french tb show partially replicated milgrams research. Participants were paid to give (fake) electric shocks to other participants (actors) when orders by the presenter
The results were that 80% of participants delivered the maximum shock of 460 volts to an apparently unconscious man. Their behaviour was almost identical to that of milgrams participants - nervous laughter as well as other forms of anxiety
This shows that milgrams experiment can be replicated in the real world. This supports milgrams original conclusions