Research Methods - Methodological issues Flashcards
To learn about the methodological issues and the ethical guidelines
What is generalisability?
The ability to generalise the results to the target population
what is representativeness?
The ability to make the sample represent the target population regarding age, gender and ethnicity
What is population validity?
How accurately a sample represents the intended population and how accurately it measures behaviour of general population
What is low population validity?
When the generalisability is low, the population validity is low as findings from sample do not truly represent behaviours of population
What is high population validity?
When the generalisability is high, the population validity is high as findings from sample represent behaviours of population
What is reliability?
Whether a test can be repeated and produce the consistent results
What is split half method?
Where one half of the test and the second are tested to see if they give the same consistency of results on each half
What is external reliability?
The extent to which test scores vary form one time to another
* if i gave an IQ test to someone today would it give the same reading as if I give the test six months’ time?
What is internal reliability?
How consistent results of a test are across items within the test
What is test-retest reliability?
To see if the same results are achieved in both tests
What is inter-rater reliability?
When two or more researchers consistently rate or observe the same behaviour and ratings are correlated
What is validity?
How accurate research or test is at measuring what is set out to measure
What is internal validity?
The extent to which the affect of the IV on the DV is being truly measured
What is high internal validity?
When the research does not have many extraneous variables
What is external validity?
How much the results can be generalised to other settings
What is face validity?
How good a test or research looks to be testing what it is meant to be testing
What is construct validity?
Where a test or study measures the actual behaviour it sets out to measure
* a test for intelligence shouldn’t asses general knowledge or memory
What is concurrent validity?
When a test or piece of research gives the same results as another test or piece of research which claims to measure the same behaviour
What is criterion validity?
How much one measure predicts the value of another measure
What is predictive validity?
Where the test or research can predict certain behaviours, such as an IQ testing predicting success in education
How would predictive validity be tested?
A group of people would be tested and tested again at a later stage in life to see if predictions were correct
What is ecological validity?
How much the research is like real-life
- lab experiments lack EV
- field experiments have high EV
What is demand characteristics?
When ppts change their behaviour to fit the aims of the experiment/research
What is social desirability bias?
When ppts act in a certain way because they feel it will represent them in a good light
