Validity

Question 1

State what it is meant by the key term ‘validity’

Answer 1

Validity - does the test do what it was supposed to

Question 2

What are the two types of validity

Answer 2

1. Logical validity

2. Statistical validity (also known as ‘criterion’)

Question 3

What are the sub divisions of the two types of validity

Answer 3

1. Logical validity - face validity, content validity
2. Statistical validity/criterion - concurrent validity, predictive validity
3. Both statistical/criterion and logical validity - construct validity

Question 4

State what it is meant by the key term ‘face validity’

Answer 4

Face validity - is it obvious that the test does what it’s supposed to do

Question 5

State what it is meant by the key term ‘content validity’

Answer 5

Content validity - does it test all of the relevant components/does it measure the variable in it’s entirety

Question 6

State what it is meant by the key term ‘construct validity’

Answer 6

Construct validity - is it capable of measuring what should exist

Question 7

State what it is meant by the key term ‘concurrent validity’

Answer 7

Concurrent validity - how good one test represents another test which measures the same variable

Question 8

State what it is meant by the key term ‘predictive validity’

Answer 8

Predictive validity - does the same test produce the same result on a different occasion or in a different circumstance

Question 9

State what it is meant by the key term ‘logical validity’

Answer 9

Logical validity - refers to whether the test/experiment is measuring the right variable in it’s entirety

Question 10

State what it is meant by the key term statistical validity/criterion

Answer 10

Statistical validity/criterion - does the test give the same result as similar tests (different tests, or same tests on a different day)

Question 11

What is the rate of: 1) incidence, 2) sensitivity, and 3) specificity

Answer 11

1. Incidence - 0.8%
2. Sensitivity - 87%
3. Specificity - 93%

Question 12

State 3 threats to internal validity, and give solutions

Answer 12

1. Selection bias
2. Randomise, matched pairs, matched groups, cross over design
3. History - did something happen before next measurement
4. Have a control group
5. Instrumentation
6. Calibration

Question 13

State 2 examples of threats, and some solutions, to internal and external validity

Answer 13

1. Pre-testing
2. Solomon’s 4 group design
3. Experimental mortality - drop outs = missing data
4. Have incentives to participation

Question 14

State 3 threats to external validity, and give solutions

Answer 14

1. Biased sampling
2. Recruit people you want to say something about
3. Hawthorne effect
4. Discard first measurement so they get used to being obsurved
5. Demand characteristics
6. Single blinding, double blinding, triple blinding
7. Operationalisation (ecological validity)

Question 15

State what it is meant by the key term ‘Hawthorne effect’

Answer 15

The Hawthorne effect states that changes occur to your measurements due to the fact participants change behaviour as they feel they’re being obsurved

Question 16

State what it is meant by the key term ‘demand characteristics’

Answer 16

Demand characteristics are where the participants have deduced what the experiment is about and behave accordingly

Question 17

State what it is meant by the key term ‘operationalisation/ecological validity’

Answer 17

Operationalisation/ecological validity - do the results have any real world application