Types of Validity Flashcards
What is validity?
Validity refers to whether something is true or legitimate.
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 external validity?
External validity is a measure of whether data can be generalised to other situations outside of the research environment.
What is ecological validity?
Ecological validity is a type of external validity, and refers to the extent to which psychologists can apply their findings to other settings – predominantly to everyday life.
What is temporal validity?
Temporal validity is another form of external validity, which refers to the extent to which research findings can be applied across time.
What is face validity?
Does the test appear to measure what it says it measures?
What is concurrent validity?
This is where the performance of the test in question is compared to a test that is already recognised and trusted within the
same field.
What are the 3 ways to improve validity?
Experiments, questionnaires, observations
Why do psychologists use control groups to improve validity?
This allows psychologists to see whether the independent variable influences the dependent variable.
Why do psychologists use single‐blind or double‐blind procedures to improve validity?
Single‐blind procedure- participants do not know which condition they are in. Double‐blind- neither the participant nor the researcher knows which condition participants are in. This ensures that the knowledge of the conditions does not result in demand characteristics on behalf
of the participants or investigator effects from the direct or indirect behaviour of the experimenter.
What are standardised instructions?
It involves giving all participants the same instructions in exactly the same format, minimising investigator effects.
How is consistency tested in questionnaires?
A lie scale. Eg two questions asking the same thing but in opposite ways such as on a scale the questions may state ‘I sleep well at night’ and ‘my sleep has become worse’, two statements that can’t be answered the same.
Why is a reminder of anonymity important?
By remaining unidentifiable, participants are less likely to give answers that are socially desirable
Why are covert observations a good way of improving validity?
The researchers are not seen and thus the likelihood of natural behaviour is increased.
Why are covert observations a good way of improving validity?
The researchers are not seen and thus the likelihood of natural behaviour is increased.
