Validity

Question 1

What is validity?

Answer 1

The extent to with an observed effect is genuine

Question 2

What is internal validity?

Answer 2

The extent to which a test measures what it is supposed to measure- are the effects due to to the manipulation of the IV and not some other factors

Question 3

What is external validity?

Answer 3

The extent to which results can be generalised outside of the research environment/ setting

Question 4

What are the three forms of external validity?

Answer 4

1. Ecological validity
2. Population validity
3. Temporal validity

Question 5

What is ecological validity?

Answer 5

The extent to which findings from a study can be generalised to other settings

Question 6

What is population validity?

Answer 6

The extent to which findings from a study can be generalised to other people

Question 7

What is temporal validity?

Answer 7

The extent to which findings from a study can be generalised to other particular time periods

Question 8

What is mundane realism?

Answer 8

How realistic the task in the experiment is- if an experiment has low mundane realism the task is not similar to real life and this leads to low external validity

Question 9

What are two ways of assessing validity?

Answer 9

1. Face to face- the extent to which test items look like what the test claims to measure
2. Concurrent validity- the extent to which a psychological measure relates to an existing similar measure

Question 10

How can researchers improve the validity of experiments?

Answer 10

1. Use a control group
2. Use standardisation procedures
3. Use of single blind and double blind procedures- reduces demand characteristics

Question 11

How do researchers improve the validity of questionnaires

Answer 11

1. Include a lie scale within the questions in order to asses the consistency of participants responses. This also reduces the effects of social desirability bias.