Validity

Question 1

Define ‘validity’.

Answer 1

• The extent to which an observed effect is genuine

Does it measure what it is supposed to measure? Can it be generalised beyond the research setting in which it was found

Question 2

What is internal validity?

Answer 2

• Refers to whether the effects obsevrved in an experiment are due to the manipulation of the independant variable & not some other factor
• One major threat of internal validity is if ppts respond to demand characteristics & act in a way they think is exptected.

Question 3

What is external validity?

Answer 3

• Relates more to factors outside of investigation such as generalising to other settings, populations of people & other eras
• Ecological Validity is a type of external validity- concerns generalising the findings from a study to other settings- most particular to ‘every day life’

A lab has low ecological validity because people do not behave naturally in a lab

Question 4

What is temporal validity?

Answer 4

• The issue whether findings from a particular study or concepts within a particular theory, hold true over time
• (Also a form of external validity)

Question 5

What ways are there of assessing validity?

Answer 5

• By face validity- whether a test, scale or measure appears on the ‘face of it’ to measure what it is supposed to measure e.g. does a test of anxiety look like it measure anxiety?
• By concurrent validity- The extent to which a psychological measure relates to an existing similar measure - e.g. close agreement between two sets of data indicate that the test has high concurrent validity

Question 6

What ways are there of improving validity?

Answer 6

• Experiments
• Questionnaires
• Observations
• Qualitative research

Question 7

How can experimental research improve validity?

Answer 7

• Using a control group means researcher is better able to assess whether changes in the dependent variable were due to the effect of the independant variable
• Experimenters may also standardise procedures to minimise the impact of ppt reactivity & investigator effects on validity of outcome- use of single blind & double blind procsdures is designed to achieve the same aim

Question 8

How can questionaires improve validity?

Answer 8

• Many questionairres & psychological tests incorporate a lie scale- within questions in order to assess the consistency of a respondents response & to control for the effects of social desirability bias
• Validity may be further enhanced by assuring respndents that all data submitted will remain anonymous

Question 9

How can observations improve validity?

Answer 9

• Observational research may produce findings that have high ecological validity as there may be 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 & authentic

Question 10

How can qualitative reseach improve validity?

Answer 10

• Qualitative research are usually thought of as having higher ecological validity than more quantitative, less interpretative methods of research
• This is because the depth & detail associated w case studies & interviews e.g. is better able to reflect a ppts reality
• Hwvr a researcher may still have to demonstrate the interpretive validity of their conclusions - this is extent to which researchers interpretation of events matches that of their ppts
• Validity can be further enhanced through triangulation- use of a number of different sources as evidence, e.g. data compiled through interviews w friends, family, personal diaried observations etc.