types of validity

Question 1

validity

Answer 1

the extent to which an observed effect is genuine - does it measure what it was supposed to measure, and can it be generalised beyond the search setting within which it was found?

Question 2

4 types of validity

Answer 2

• face validity
• concurrent validity
• ecological validity
• temporal validity

Question 3

Face validity

Answer 3

a basic form of validity in which a measure is scrutinised to determine whether it appears to measure what it is supposed to measure - for instance, does a test of anxiety look like it measures anxiety?

Question 4

Concurrent validity

Answer 4

the extent to which a psychological measure related to an existing similar measure

Question 5

Ecological validity

Answer 5

the extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other settings and situations. A form of external validity

Question 6

Temporal validity

Answer 6

the extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other historical times and eras. A form of external validity

Question 7

Internal validity

Answer 7

whether the effects observed in an experiment are due to the manipulation of the independent variable and not some other factor.

• one major threat to the internal validity of a study is if participants respond to demand characteristics and act in a way that they think is expected.

Question 8

Improving validity - experimental research

Answer 8

• using a control group means that a researcher is better able to assess whether changes in the dependent variable were due to the effect of the independent variable
• standardise procedures to minimise the impact of participant reactivity and investigator effects on the validity of the outcome. (also use of single-blind and double-blind)

Question 9

Improving validity - questionnaires

Answer 9

many questionnaires and psychological tests incorporate a lie scale within the questions in order to assess the consistency of a respondent’s response and to control for the effects of social desirability bias.
- validity further enhanced by assuring respondents that all data submitted will remain anonymous

Question 10

Improving validity - observations

Answer 10

may produce findings that have high ecological validity as there may be minimal intervention by the researcher.
observer aims undetected - covert observations

Question 11

Improving validity - qualitative methods

Answer 11

higher ecological validity
triangulation - the use of a number of different sources as evidence, e.g., data compiled through interviews with friends and family, personal diaries etc.