Validity Flashcards
Outline internal validity
Whether effects observed in experiment due to manipulation of IV & not other factor
Major threat = demand characteristics
Outline ecological validity
Concerns generalising findings from study to other settings, mostly to irl
If task used to measure DV in experiment isn’t like irl (lacks mundane realism) causes lower EV
Outline temporal validity
Whether findings from particular study, or concepts within particular theory hold true over time
E.g. original Asch experiments were product of particularly conformist era in recent USA history
What are ways of assessing validity?
Face validity
Concurrent validity
Outline face validity
Whether test, scale or measure appears ‘on face’ of it measures what it’s supposed to measure
Determined by simply ‘eyeballing’ measuring instrument or passing to an expert to check
Outline concurrent validity
When results very close to or match those obtained on another recognised/well-established test
E.g. New intelligence test administered to group of parties & IQ scores achieved compared with performance on well-established test (e.g. Stanford-Binet test)
How do we improve validity on experiments?
Control group - researcher better able to assess whether changes in DV due to effect of IV
Standardise procedures - minimise impacts of parti reactivity & investigator effects on validity of outcome
Single&double-blind - reduces effects of demand characteristics & investigator effects
How do we improve the validity of questionnaires
Incorporate lie scale within questions to assess consistency of respondent’s response & control effects of SDB
Further enhanced by assuring respondents all data submitted remain anonymous
How do we improve the validity of observations
Covert observation - behaviour observed likely to be natural & authentic
Behavioural categories too broad/overlapping/ambiguous may have negative impact on validity of data collected
How do we improve qualitative research?
Interpretive validity - extent to which researcher’s interpretation of events matches participants’
Can be demonstrated through coherence of researcher’s narrative & inclusion of direct quotes from parties within report
Further enhanced through Triangulation - use of number of different sources as evidence, e.g. data compiled through through interviews with friends & family, etc.
