Validity

Question 1

What is validity ?

Answer 1

• The extent a which a test measures compared to what it is expected to get.

Question 2

What is internal validity?

Answer 2

• Questions cause and effect relationship between the change the researcher made to the IV and the observed change in the DV. If the change in the DV was influenced by any other factor than the IV the findings lack of internal validity.

Question 3

What is external validity ?

Answer 3

• Questions if a study can be generlaised beyond the study. So the sample used to the target population - real world application.

Question 4

What is social desirability bias ?

Answer 4

• Ppts hide their genuine opinouns/behaviours and instead act and respond in a way to “look good” or in a way that is more socially acceptable

Question 5

What are demand characteristics ?

Answer 5

• Ppts think they have discovered the aim and behave in a way that they believe researcher wants.

Question 6

What are investigator effects ?

Answer 6

• The researchers behavior influences the ppt’s behaviours

Question 7

What is ecological validity?

Answer 7

• A type of external validity
• To what extent can findings can be generalised to other settings and situations.

Question 8

What is temporal validity ?

Answer 8

• A form of external validity , to what extent can a study be generalised to other historical times and eras.
  E.g penis envy is now outdated and due to the sexist victorian society

Question 9

What are the ways of assessing validity ?

Answer 9

-Face validity 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?
- The concurrent validity of a particular test or scale is demonstrated when the results obtained are very close to, or match, those obtained on another recognised and well-established test.

Question 10

What are the ways of improving validity
(Experiments) ?

Answer 10

• 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.
• Experimenters may also standardise procedures to minimise the impact of participant reactivity and investigator effects on the validity of the outcome. The use of single-blind and double-blind procedures is designed to achieve the same aim.
• As this reduces demand characteristics and double-blind trial also reduces investigator effects.

Question 11

What are the ways of improving validity (Questionnaires)?

Answer 11

• 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 may be further enhanced by assuring respondents that all data submitted will remain anonymous.
• Used closed questions

Question 12

What are the ways of improving validity (Observations)?

Answer 12

• Observational research may produce findings that have high ecological validity as there maybe minimal intervention by the researcher. This is especially the case if the observer remains undetected, as in covert observations, meaning that the behaviour of those observed is likely to be natural and authentic.In addition, behavioural categories that are too broad, overlapping or ambiguous may have a negative impact on the validity of the data collected.