topic 4: validity

Question 1

define validity

Answer 1

to what extent the research gives the FULL
TRUTHFUL
ACCURATE
picture

Question 2

interpretivism on validity

Answer 2

qualitative methods are highest in validity bc more depth and detail gives a better understanding

Question 3

why are semi structured and unstructured interviews high in validity?

Answer 3

— RAPPORT built: more likely to give longer more in depth answers
— new UNEXPECTED ideas may emerge
— interviewee can ask for CLARIFICATION

Question 4

why might observation be high in validity?

Answer 4

— NATURAL ENVIRONMENT: especially covert, no Hawthorne effect

— participant observation may achieve VERSTEHEN (empathetic understanding)

Question 5

why might longitudinal studies be high in validity?

Answer 5

show life changing over LONG PERIODS OF TIME rather than a snapshot

Question 6

positivism in validity

Answer 6

qualitative methods have problems and may reduce validity

Question 7

why may semi structured / unstructured interviews be low in validity

Answer 7

— LEADING QUESTIONS may distort answers

— SOCIAL DESIRABILITY: respondent may answer in a way that makes them look good (espec. in informal setting)

— INTERVIEWER EFFECT: social characteristics of interviewer impacts interviewee e.g. Labov found that black children spoke in depth to him but not to white interviewees

Question 8

why may participant observation be low in validity?

Answer 8

— GOING NATIVE (loss of objectivity)

— HAWTHORNE EFFECT

Question 9

why might qualitative data be low in validity?

Answer 9

Produces too much data so researcher needs to CHERRY 🍒 PICK which results in VALUE IMPOSITION

Question 10

why might quantitative methods be high in validity?

Answer 10

— PRE SET QUESTIONS mean less chance of interviewer bias / leading questions

— anonymous, self completion questionnaire means SOCIAL DESIRABILITY IS NOT AN ISSUE (e.g. Crime Survey of England and Wales)

— needs less interpretation, so no cherry picking and no value imposition: stats provided are a SOCIAL FACT/UNDENIABLE OBJECTIVE TRUTH “figures speak for themselves” (Sutton trust)

Question 11

why may quantitative methods be low in validity?

Answer 11

— even numbers need interpretation

— short undetailed answers give a limited version of the truth

— ppl may lie in questionnaires

— no chance for clarification of meaning

— unnatural formal setting may result in Hawthorne effect/socially desirable answers