JWi research methods 2/2

Question 1

What is validity ?

Answer 1

Validity is the extent to which a study, test or measuring instrument measures what it intends to measure.

Question 2

What is internal validity?

Answer 2

Whether the effects observed in a study are due to manipulation of the independent variable and not any other factor.

Question 3

What is external validity?

Answer 3

How well you can generalise the results from research participants (apply the findings of a study) to people, places and times outside of the study.

Question 4

What is population validity?

Answer 4

The extent to which we can apply the findings of the study to different types of people

Question 5

What is temporal validity?

Answer 5

The extent to which we can apply the findings of the study to different time periods/eras

Question 6

What is ecological validity?

Answer 6

The extent to which we can apply the findings to other settings/situations

Question 7

What is cultural validity?

Answer 7

The extent to which we can apply the findings to other cultures

Question 8

What is triangulation?

Answer 8

When a number of different qualitative findings come together and triangulate (support each other), adding to validity.

Question 9

What is face validity?

Answer 9

Whether a test, scale or measure appears to measure what it is intended for at face value, this is done by ‘eyeballing’.

Question 10

What is reliability?

Answer 10

Reliability is a measure of consistency. It refers to how consistent the findings from an investigation or measuring device are. A measuring device is said to be reliable if it produces consistent results every time it is used.