Validity Flashcards
what is validity?
whether a psychological test, observation or experiment produce a result that is legitimate
what are the types of validity?
- external validity
- internal validity
- temporal validity
what is internal validity?
whether researcher has managed to measure what they intended to measure
what is external validity?
extent to which findings can be generalised beyond the research setting they were found
what is a major threat to the internal validity of a study?
if ppts respond to demand characteristics and act in a way they think is expected
what does external validity relate to?
factors outside the investigation, e.g. generalising to other settings
what is ecological validity?
- type of external validity
- generalising the findings from the study to other settings (e.g everyday life)
what is temporal validity?
- whether findings from a particular study, concept or theory hold true over time
what are the two validities when assessing validity?
- face validity
- concurrent validity
what is face validity?
- whether a test, scale or measure appears ‘on the face of it’ to measure what it is supposed to
what is concurrent validity?
when the results obtained on a scale or tests are very close or match
how do we improve the validity of experiments?
- using a control group
- standardise procedures
- use of single-blind and double blind procedures
why do we use control groups to improve the validity of experiments?
- researcher is better able to assess whether changes to DV is due to effect of the IV
why do we use standardised procedures to improve the validity of experiments?
- minimses the impact of participant reactivity and investigator effects on validity of outcome
why do we use single-blind procedures to improve the validity of experiments?
- ppts aren’t aware of the aims of the study until they have taken part to reduce the effect of demand characteristics
why do we use double-blind procedure to improve the validity of experiments?
- third party conducts investigation without knowing the main purpose
- reduces demand characteristics and investigator effects
how do we improve the validity of questionnaires?
- many questionnaires and psychological tests incorporate a lie scale
- ensuring respondents submitting data are anonymous
why are lie scales incorporated within questionnaires?
- to assess the consistency of a respondent’s response
- control for the effects of social desirability bias
how do we improve the validity of observations?
- observations may produce findings that have high ecological val as there is minimal intervention by researcher
= especially in covert observations - behavioural categories that are too broad, overlapping and ambiguous can have a negative impact on validity
how do we improve the validity of qualitative research?
- usually have higher ecological validity than quantitative
- depth and detail associated with case studies and interview are better able to reflect a participant’s reality
- researcher may still demonstrate interpretive validity of their conclusions
- enhanced through triangulation
what is interpretive validity?
researcher’s interpretation of events matches that of their participants
- can be demonstrated through coherence of researcher’s narrative and direct quotes
what is triangulation?
use of a number of different sources as evidences
- e.g. data compiled through interviews with friends and family, personal diaries and observations
