Validity and reliability

Question 1

What is internal validity

Answer 1

Study measures what it intends to measure (as cofounding variables have been controlled and won’t affect results)

Question 2

What is external validity

Answer 2

Whether the study paints a true picture of real life behaviours and would apply to different places, times or people (population validity)

Question 3

What are validity issues

Answer 3

Factors that jeopardise validity of research during the data collection phase

Question 4

Researcher bias

Answer 4

Researcher directly or indirectly influences the results of a study, through the process of designing the study or through the way research is conducted/analysed

Question 5

Demand characteristics

Answer 5

Participants unconsciously work out the aim and act differently

Question 6

Social desirability

Answer 6

Participants give the response that they think will show them in best possible light: not true reflection of thoughts/feelings

Question 7

What is the double blind procedure

Answer 7

Neither researcher or participant know true aims of study.
Stops researcher bias and demand characteristics

Question 8

What is the Single Blind Procedure

Answer 8

Participants unaware of research hypothesis until after role is complete.
Stops social desirability and demand characteristics

Question 9

What else increases validity

Answer 9

Giving participants anonymity and confidentiality

Question 10

What is internal reliability

Answer 10

the extent to which a test or measure is consistent within itself. E.g. use of standardised instructions and procedure for all participants

Question 11

What is external reliability

Answer 11

The extent to which a test produces consistent results over several occasions

Question 12

Lack of operationalisation of the variables

Answer 12

When you don’t clearly state how you are defining and measuring your variables, replication is difficult to less reliable

Question 13

Order effects

Answer 13

Can occur in a repeated measures design. When completing the 2nd condition the participant can become practiced/better at the task the second round, or underperform due to boredom.

Question 14

What else can jeopardise reliability?

Answer 14

Lack of standardised procedures, inconsistency of measuring tools, and uncontrolled environment

Question 15

How to deal with reliability issues

Answer 15

Increasing levels of control in a study by using standardised procedure, instructions and scientific measuring equipment and laboratory environments

Question 16

How to combat order effects

Answer 16

Counterbalancing:
Splitting the population/sample into 2 halves; the first half complete condition 1 followed condition 2, whilst second half complete condition 2 then condition 1.
Increasing internal validity