Lecture 1a Flashcards
What are the two reasons for lack of congruency between operational and theoretical definitions?
- The operational definition isn’t exhaustive
- The operational definition isn’t exclusive
These impair construct validity.
What is the solution to lack of congruency between operational and theoretical definitions?
Multiple operationalism or variations in manipulating the IV.
What are the four criterions of validity of experiment findings according to Cook & Campbell (1979)?
- Statistical conclusion validity
- Internal validity
- Construct validity
- External validity
True or False: The validity of the experiment findings is the same as the validity of the measure.
False
What does external validity deal with?
Generalizing the results beyond populations, times, and situations.
What is the interaction of testing X treatment in external validity?
Can we generalize results to participants who didn’t go through the pretest measure?
What is the solution for the interaction of selection X treatment?
- Random sampling from the population
- Minimizing the population according to the sample
- Replicating the study on other samples
What are the threats to external validity?
- Interaction of testing X treatment
- Interaction of selection X treatment
- Interaction of setting or history X treatment
What defines an artifact in the context of internal validity?
An alternative explanation that can be separated from the IV.
What is a confounding variable?
A variable that confounds with the IV.
What is the main criterion for a true experiment?
Must involve random assignment to conditions and a proper control condition.
What are quasi-experimental designs?
Research designs that are not true experiments and suffer from threats to internal validity.
What are the three types of quasi-experimental designs mentioned?
- One-group posttest-only design
- One-group pretest-posttest design
- Nonequivalent control group design
What is the primary focus of construct validity?
Whether the operational definition fits with the theoretical one.
What does ecological validity refer to?
Whether the procedure used mirrors real life.
What is the importance of replication in research?
Establishing external validity by repeating or duplicating a previous study.
What are the types of replication mentioned?
- Exact (direct/literal) replication
- Partial replication
- Conceptual replication
What is the role of random sampling in establishing external validity?
It provides the best assurance that the same characteristics of the population exist in the sample.
What are evolutionary psychologists’ views on sex differences in human mate preferences?
Women emphasize social and economic stability, while men prioritize physical appearance and fertility signs.
What are some threats to internal validity due to the research conducted?
- Validity and reliability of the measurement
- Validity and reliability of procedure
- History
- Data analysis
What types of threats to internal validity arise from participants?
- Awareness
- Selection
- Dropout (mortality)
- Maturation
What is the primary type of validity to establish in research?
Internal validity
Fill in the blank: The main reason to use experimental study designs is the ability to conclude there is a _______ correlation between two variables.
[causal]
What are the three basic conditions to conclude causality?
- Two variables vary together
- There is time order
- Ability to rule out alternative explanations
What is the main reason to use experimental study designs?
The ability to conclude there is a causal correlation between two variables.
What is internal validity?
The ability to find a causal correlation, ensuring that the experimental treatment causes differences in the DV and not some other external variable.
What is external validity?
The possibility to generalize the experiment findings.
What is statistical conclusion validity?
Determining if there is a statistically significant correlation between the IV and the DV.
What are threats to internal validity?
- Number of IV’s
- Number of measures and their order
- Assignment of participants to conditions
What are artifacts in the context of internal validity?
External variables that might act as alternative explanations for the IV-DV correlation.
What does rejecting H0 indicate?
That there is enough evidence to suggest a significant effect or correlation.
What is a Type I Error?
Rejecting H0 when it is actually true.
What is a Type II Error?
Not rejecting H0 when it is actually false.
What is the probability of making a Type I error denoted as?
α
What is the confidence level in hypothesis testing?
1 - α
What is the power of a statistical test denoted as?
1 - β
What are the four criteria for validity of the experiment findings according to Cook & Campbell (1979)?
- Statistical conclusion validity
- Internal validity
- Construct validity
- External validity
Is the validity of the experiment findings the same as the validity of the measure?
No, they are related but not the same.
What is the role of control groups in internal validity?
To help rule out alternative explanations and sources of systematic errors.
Fill in the blank: The ability to find a causal correlation is known as _______.
internal validity
True or False: Internal validity ensures that differences in the DV are due to the IV manipulation alone.
True
