Scientifc Processes Part 2 Flashcards
Test-retest reliability
Test-retest is a way of assessing the external reliability of a research tool. It involves presenting the same participants with the same test or questionnaire on two separate occasions, and seeing whether there is a positive correlation between the two.
What is reliability?
Reliability is a measure of whether something stays the same, i.e. is consistent.
What is inter rated reliability?
It is very important to establish inter-observer reliability when conducting observational research. It refers to the extent to which two or more observers are observing and recording behaviour in the same way.
What is validity
Validity refers to whether a measure actually measures what it claims to be measuring.
What is face validity ?
Face validity is a measure of whether it looks subjectively promising that a tool measures what it’s supposed to
What is internal validity?
Internal validity is a measure of whether results obtained are solely affected by changes in the variable being manipulated (i.e. by the independent variable) in a cause-and-effect relationship.
What is construct validity?
Construct validity – asks whether a measure successfully measures the concept it is supposed to (e.g. does a questionnaire measure IQ, or something related but crucially different?).
What is concurrent validity?
asks whether a measure is in agreement with pre-existing measures that are validated to test for the same [or a very similar] concept (gauged by correlating measures against each other).
What is external validity?
External validity is a measure of whether data can be generalised to other situations outside of the research environment they were originally gathered in.
What is temporal validity?
Temporal validity – this is high when research findings successfully apply across time (certain variables in the past may no longer be relevant now or in the future).
What are ecological validity ?
Ecological validity – whether data is generalisable to the real world, based on the conditions research is conducted under and procedures involved.
Theory construction?
- Theory construction is an important feature of any science. In psychology, a theory is a proposed explanation for the causes of behaviour.
-To be scientific, a theory needs to be a logically organized set of propositions that defines events, describes relationships among events, and explains and predicts the occurrence of events.
-A scientific theory should also guide research by offering testable hypotheses that can be rigorously tested.
Hypothesis testing?
Hypothesis testing is an important feature of science, as this is how theories are developed and modified.
A good theory should generate testable predictions (hypotheses), and if research fails to support the hypotheses, then this suggests that the theory needs to be modified in some way.
Empirical method
An empirical method involves the use of objective, quantitative observation in a systematically controlled, replicable situation, in order to test or refine a theory.
Objectivity?
- Objectivity is a feature of science, and if something is objective it is not affected by the personal feelings and experiences of the researcher.
- The researcher should remain value-free and unbiased when conducting their investigations.
