Methodological Issues Flashcards
What is validity?
If the research has been measured ACCURATELY
What is ecological validity?
Consider if what participants do resembles a real life setting/a situation which would occur in every day life
What is population validity?
Looks at the make up of samples as we want to understand how as many people as possible behave (generalisable)
What is construct validity?
A study needs to be measuring what it set out to measure. Looks at what factors could prevent this such as extraneous variables, knowing the aim of the study
Explain why Milgram’s study lacks ecological validity?
You wouldn’t normally administer electric shocks to another person everyday
Explain why Milgram’s study has a high ecological validity?
People working in the Nazi death camps were also required (by an authority figure) to inflict harm upon one another
Explain why Piliavin’s study lacks ecological validity?
The study took place at 11am -3pm so participants may not expect to see people drunk on the train at that time
Explain why Piliavin’s study has a high ecological validity?
Many emergencies occur daily
Being on the subway train it is common for drunks to be there at all times of the day
Explain why Bandura’s study lacks ecological validity?
Children would not normally see adults attacking toys
Explain why Bandura’s study have a high ecological validity?
Children may normally see adults being aggressive in other situations
Explain why Milgram’s study lacks population validity?
The sample only included men and no women
They were only from New Haven in America
Small age range - others may act differently
Explain why Milgram’s study has a high population validity?
It has a wide range of occupations/qualifications
Similar to characteristics of Nazi Male officers who will have worked at concentration camps (representative)
Explain why Piliavin’s study lacks population validity?
Only happened in New York other people worldwide may have acted differently
Only people who take the train not people who drive or walk etc.
Explain why Piliavin’s study has a high population validity?
The study was carried out in New York which is a very diverse city - includes people from all ethnic backgrounds
Explain why Bandura’s study lacks population validity?
The sample only included children of a very small age range (3-5 years) other children may have acted differently
The parents of the children probably worked at Stanford university. This is a good and expensive university so the sample may have been more middle class and educated than other children in areas of the USA
Explain why Bandura’s study has a high population validity?
It can be generalised to the rest of the USA
Explain why Milgram’s study lacks construct validity?
Milgram’s didn’t do much to ensure the participants were all psychologically healthy. Milgram would not have been testing obedience if a participant enjoyed hurting people and shocked the learner for pleasure
Explain why Milgram’s study has a high construct validity?
Participants were decieved so couldn’t guess the aim of the study (no demand characteristics)
Lab experiment so highly standardised procedure
Took place at Yale university and had trial shocks which made it seem real
Wide range of occupations controlled fro possible individual differences