Validity Flashcards
What are the two types of validity?
- internal validity
- external validity
what is internal validity? (2 points)
Whether the study measures what it intends to measure
Whether we can be certain that the IV is what is causing the change in the DV
what is external validity?
whether the study paints a true picture of real-life behaviours (mundane realism) and would apply to different places, times or people
What are the 2 main validity issues?
- Extraneous and confounding variables
- Low mundane realism
What is researcher bias?
the researcher can directly or indirectly influence the result of a study, through the process of designing the study or through the way the research was conducted or analyzed
What are demand characteristics?
when participants unconciously work out the aim of the study and act differently than how they would normally
What is social desirability?
when participants give the response that they think will show them in the best possible light, meaning they are not atrue reflection of their thoughts/feelings
How can we deal with researcher bias?
researcher bias can be overcome with a double blind procedure. this involves neither the researcher collecting the data, nor the participant involved, knowing the true aims of the study. this also reduced demand characteristics
How can we reduce social desirability and demand characteristics?
social desirability and demand characteristics can be reduced with a single blind procedure, where the participants dont know the intentions of the study, and therefore cannot change their behaviour accordingly
What are the five ways of assessing validity?
- face validity
- predictive validity
- content validity
- concurrent validity
- construct validity
what is face validity?
whether the test appears to measure what it claims to, and therefore is objective.
what is predictive validity?
The degree to which a test predicts a future outcome on a more broadly related topic.
what is content validity?
When you use a panel of experts to check whether you are measuring what you intend to measure
what is concurrent validity?
Comparing your test to a pre-established test. If results are similar then it is valid
what is construct validity?
When you clearly define what you are aiming to measure and then you make sure that all parts of the DV are being measured
What can internal validity be affected by?
Lack of mundane realism
Extraneous variables and confounding variables
What are examples of EVs and CVs that affect internal validity?
- Environment e.g lighting
- Differences in participants (PVs)
- The way the researcher acts to each participant (investigator effects)
- Demand characteristics
- Participant effects
How can EVs and CVs that cause issues with validity be fixed?
- Using standardised procedures
- Using repeated measures or matched pairs design
- Using double blind technique
- Creating a situation with higher mundane realism
