RM - Validity Flashcards
What is validity?
The extent to which an observed effect is genuine and represents what is in the ‘real world’.
How can something be reliable but not valid?
Something can be consistent but does not necessarily mean they are true.
E.g. Broken scales could consistently weigh someone as 7lbs above their actual weight - not true but reliable.
What does internal validity mean?
Whether the effects observed in an experiment are due to manipulation of the IV and not some other factor.
A major threat to internal validity is demand charac.s.
What is an example of demand charac.s impacting internal v. of a study?
Milgram’s study:
ps were just playing along and did not believe they were actually administering shocks.
They responded to the demands of the situation.
What is external validity?
Relates to factors outside of a study such as whether factors can be generalised to other settings, populations and ereas.
What are the diff. types of external v.?
- Ecological v.
- Temporal v.
What is ecological validity?
Generalising findings from one setting to another, usually to everyday life. E.g. if the task used to measure the DV is not like ‘everyday life’ it can lower ecological validity.
The setting such as a lab does not necessarily change the v., its more abt. the task.
What is temporal validity?
Whether the findings from a particular study or concepts from a particular theory hold true over time.
E.g. Asch’s study of conformity - 50s, more conformist time. Freud’s study, ‘penis envy’, outdated.
What is face v.?
Form of v. in which a measure is scrutinised to determine if it appears to measures what its supposed to measure.
E.g. does an anxiety test look like it measure anxiety?
What is concurrent v.?
The extent to which a psychological measure relates to an existing similar measure
How can validity be assessed?
Face validity and concurrent validity.
fv. = appears on the face of it to measure what its supposed to
cv. = particular test or scale is demonstrated when results obtained are v. close to or match those obtained on another rec. and well-established test.
How can the v. of experiments be improved?
- use a control group
- standardise procedure to minimise p. reactivity and investigator effects - use of single and double blind procedures (reduce demand charac.s)
How can the validity of questionnaires be improved?
Incorporate a lie scale to assess consistency of responses and control effects of social desirability bias. May also ensure responses are anonymous.
How can v. of observations be improved?
High ecological v. as there may be minimal intervention by researcher - covert observations, researcher undetected, beh. natural and authentic.
Beh. categories categories cannot be too broad, overlapping or ambiguous.
How can qualitative methods be v.?
Thought of as having more eco. v. than quantitative due to depth and detail.
Interpretive v. - the extent to which the researchers interpretations matches those of the ps. This can be demonstrated thro coherence of researchers report and inclusion of direct quotes.
Triangulation - no. of diff. sources to support evidence e.g. interviews w/ fam and friends, personal diary, observations etc.
