Validity & Reliability

Question 1

Face Validity

Answer 1

• Does something look like it will measure what it is supposed to measure
• E.g. IQ tests, which say they are measuring intelligence

Question 2

Construct Validity

Answer 2

• Do the measures relate to the assumed characteristics of what is being assessed
• E.g. driving tests measure hazard perception and different aspects of the driving skill

Question 3

Internal Validity

Answer 3

• Is the tool measuring what it is intending to measure

- E.g. effects observed are due to manipulation of the independent variable and not other factors

Question 4

External Validity

Answer 4

• Whether findings can be generalised beyond the context of the research situation
• E.g. can they be applied to who the study aimed to be representative of

Question 5

Ecological Validity

Answer 5

• Whether the study reflects real life situations

- E.g. both the tasks as well as the environment used

Question 6

Concurrent Validity

Answer 6

• Whether a test correlates well with a measure that has previously been validated
• E.g. comparing the results with an alternate measure would test this

Question 7

Population Validity

Answer 7

• Whether the sample is representative of the wider target population of the study as not everyone can be studied

Question 8

Criterion Validity

Answer 8

• Whether a measure can predict the performance or behavior of the measured thing
• E.g. the extent to which GCSE results can predict A-Level results

Question 9

Validity

Answer 9

• Validity looks into how well the tool measures what it is supposed to measure

Question 10

Reliability

Answer 10

• Reliability is how consistent the outcome of the measuring tool is

Question 11

Internal Reliability

Answer 11

• Whether the procedure of the study is standardised so that all participants experience the same thing

Question 12

External Reliability

Answer 12

• Whether the results of a procedure can be replicated consistently from one time to another

Question 13

Inter-rater Reliability

Answer 13

• Whether the same results can be consistently established when different researchers use the same measurement of behavior after a comparison of results to show that they are all in agreement

Question 14

Split-half Method

Answer 14

• Used in self-reports where repeat questions are used in the two halves of the questionnaire to see if they are similar, this tests the reliability of the test and of the participants answers

Question 15

Test-retest Method

Answer 15

• Testing participants more than once

- E.g. one person should get similar or the same scores on the same test on different occasions