Validity

Question 1

What is validity?

Answer 1

The extent to which an observed effect is genuine

• does it measure what is was supposed to measure
• and can it be generalised beyond the research setting within it was found.

Question 2

What is face validity?

Answer 2

A basic form of validity in which a measure is scrutinised to determine whether it appears to measure what it is supposed to measure
- does a test of anxiety look like it measures anxiety?

Question 3

What is concurrent validity?

Answer 3

The extent to which a psychological measure relates to an existing similar measure

Question 4

What is ecological validity?

Answer 4

The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other settings and situations. A form of external validity.

Question 5

What is temporal validity?

Answer 5

The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other historical times and eras. A form of external validity.

Question 6

What is internal validity?

Answer 6

The extent to which the researcher measures what was intended.

Question 7

What is population validity?

Answer 7

The extent to which the sample can be extrapolated to the population as a whole.