Validity Flashcards
Internal validity
the study measures what it intends to measure
External validity
whether the study paints a true picture of real-life behaviours (mundane realism) and would apply to different places, different
times, or different people (population validity)
Validity issues
Specific validity issues refer to factors that jeopardise validity of research
during the data collection phase. There are three specific validity issues.
Validity issues
Researcher bias
the researcher directly or indirectly influences the results of a study, through the process of designing the study or through the way the research is conducted/analysed.
Validity issues
Demand characteristics
participants unconsciously work out the aim
and act differently.
Validity issues
Social desirability
participants give the response that they think will show them in the best possible light, meaning they are not a true reflection of their thoughts/feelings.
Ways to improve validity
Single blind design
A single-blind procedure helps reduce social desirability bias and demand characteristics by keeping participants unaware of the research hypothesis until after their role is complete. This ensures that their behavior is more natural, improving the validity of the study.
Ways to improve validity
Double blind design
In a double-blind study, neither the researcher collecting the data nor the participant knows the true aims of the study. This helps reduce demand characteristics, where participants might change their behavior if they guess the study’s purpose. It also minimises researcher bias, ensuring more valid and reliable results.
Ways to improve validity
Experimental realism
If the researcher makes an experimental task sufficiently engaging the participant
pays attention to the task and not the fact that they are being observed.
