Validity

Question 1

What is validity?

Answer 1

The extent to which an observed effect is genuine -does it measure what it claims to measure? (internal validity) and can it be generalised beyond the research setting? (external validity)

Question 2

When does something lack validity?

Answer 2

When it doesn’t measure what it claims to measure

Question 3

What is internal validity?

Answer 3

Whether the effect observed is due to the manipulation of the IV and not some other factor

Question 4

Name the two types of internal validity

Answer 4

Face validity and concurrent validity

Question 5

What is face validity?

Answer 5

‘Eyeballing’ - does the measure appear to measure what it claims to?

Question 6

What is concurrent validity?

Answer 6

The extent to which the psychological measure relates to an existing measure eg your method is as good as one that’s already recognised and established eg an IQ test

Question 7

What is external validity?

Answer 7

This related to factors outside of the investigation and generalising to other situations, populations and eras

Question 8

What are the two types of external validity?

Answer 8

Ecological and temporal

Question 9

What is ecological validity?

Answer 9

Te extent to which the findings can be generalised from one setting to another (most particularly every day life)
eg people don’t behave naturally in a lab setting

Question 10

What is temporal validity?

Answer 10

The extent to which the finding from a particular study, or concepts within a particular theory hold true over time
eg conformity

Question 11

What is Mundane Realism

Answer 11

Refers to how the study mirrors real life

Question 12

How can you asses face validity

Answer 12

Simply ‘eyeballing’ the measuring instrument or passing it onto an expert to check

Question 13

How can you assess concurrent validity

Answer 13

Do a correlation of the results and a close egreement is indicated if the correlation exceeds +0.8

Question 14

What are the 3 ways of improving validity in experimental research?

Answer 14

Use of a control group, use of standardised procedures and use of single/double-blind

Question 15

Explain the use of a control group in improving the validity of experimental research

Answer 15

This means that the researches can better assess whether changes in the dependent variable were due to the effect of the independent variable
eg in a study looking at the effectiveness of therapy - a control group can show whether the improved confidence in participants is due to therapy rather than for example the passing of time

Question 16

Explain the use of standardised procedures in improving the validity of experimental research

Answer 16

This minimises the impact of participant reactivity and investigator effects on the validity of the outcome

Question 17

Explain the use of single/double-blind procedures in improving the validity of experimental research

Answer 17

In a single-blind - this reduces the impact of demand characteristics on participants behaviour
in a double-blind - this reduces both demand characteristics and investigator effects

Question 18

How can you improve validity in questionnaires? (2 ways)

Answer 18

Incorporating a lie scale to assess the consistency of a respondents response (and control for the effects if socially desirability bias). Also make the questionnaires anonymous

Question 19

How can you improve the validity of observations?

Answer 19

Have minimal intervention by the researcher or do a covert observation (these will improve ecological validity) - to ensure behaviour observes is natural and authentic.
Ensure behavioural categories aren’t too broad, don’t overlap or aren’t ambiguous.

Question 20

How can you improve the validity of qualitative methods?

Answer 20

Ensure the researcher demonstrates interprative validity (that their interpretation of events matches those of their participants)
Triangulation - use of a number of different sources as evidence