Methodological Issues Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is ecological validity?
This refers to whether the measure of behaviour resembles real life
What is the benefit of research being ecologically valid?
You can generalise results to the wider population
Define construct validity
When a study is measuring the construct that the research says its measuring.
What are demand characteristics?
Cues in an experiment that may indicate the purpose of the research to the participants
Why may demand characteristics decrease construct validity?
Too many demand characteristics may cause participants to change behaviour, so the construct of the study isn’t being measured
What is population validity?
Whether the sample used in the research is diverse and representative or not. (Age, gender, job, culture, etc)
What is reliability?
How consistent the study is
What are two ways of increasing reliability of a study?
Ensure it is standardised, so that the study is replicable for another researcher to get similar results
Ensure a large sample size to ensure a consistent effect, so it isnt obscured by anomalies.
What is ethnocentrism?
When research is centred around only one ethnic group.
What are the different ways of avoiding ethnocentrism?
Cross cultural research-comparing behaviours with various cultures. Sample now includes different countries/cultures
Biological research-biological functions likely to be universal, so ethnocentrism isnt a problem
Heterogeneous population-
What are the different ways of avoiding ethnocentrism?
Cross cultural research-comparing behaviours with various cultures. Sample now includes different countries/cultures
Biological research-biological functions likely to be universal, so ethnocentrism isnt a problem
Heterogeneous population-
