Validity

Question 1

what is internal validity

Answer 1

the ability of your research design to test the hypothesis
for what it was designed for

= change in the independent variable caused change in the dependent variable

Question 2

what can threat internal validity

Answer 2

1. extraneous variables

2. confounding variables

Question 3

extraneous variables

Answer 3

(alternative explanations for the observed effect) = rival hypothesis

Question 4

confounding variables

Answer 4

= if two independent variables influence the dependent at the same level and you cannot distinguish which variable has actually caused the observed effect

Question 5

Threats to internal validity

Answer 5

1. History
2. Maturation
3. Testing (pretesting)
4. Instrumentation
5. Statistical regression
6. Biased selection of participants
7. Experimental mortality

Question 6

Threat: History

Answer 6

multiple observations over time

-> different events can occur in between = affecting the results

Question 7

Threat: Maturation

Answer 7

Effect of age or fatigue

• can affect performance changes (confounding variable)
• cannot difference which variable caused the outcome

Question 8

Threat: testing

Answer 8

making pretests before the actual treatment
- subjects get presensitized
= better performance afterwards

Question 9

Threat: Instrumentation

Answer 9

unobserved changes in an criteria or measurement instrument.

- difficult to distinguish what caused the actual response

Question 10

Statistical regression

Answer 10

if you have chosen participants which an extreme score,

- Tendency in the second test/measurement = regression to the population mean

Question 11

Biased selection of participants

Answer 11

initial differences in the subjects–> leads to changes in the performance/results
- cannot separate the effect of the independent variable

Question 12

Experimental Mortality

Answer 12

participants drop out of the study due to death, moving

Question 13

external validity

Answer 13

study results can be generalized beyond the research setting
- applying to real world problems

Question 14

What is the aim of for external validity ?

Answer 14

gaining inside into the underlying mechanisms of the studied behavior

Question 15

Threats to external validity

Answer 15

1. Highly controlled laboratory settings
2. Reactive testing
3. Interaction: selection particip. bias and IV
4. reactivity of experimental arrangements
5. multiple treatment inference

Question 16

reactive testing

Answer 16

pretest influences participant’s reaction on an experimental variable.

Question 17

Interaction: selection bias

Answer 17

study results can only be applied to studied group of subjects (e.g college students, gender )

Question 18

Reactivity of the experimental arrangements

Answer 18

• artificial setting of the experimental situation

- participant’s knowledge that they part of the study

Question 19

multiple treatment inference

Answer 19

• treatment in the first condition may affect the performance in the later condition (e.g. fatigue)

Question 20

Problem with internal and external validity ? interaction

Answer 20

if one increases the other usually decreases

Question 21

What kinds of research settings are available ?

Answer 21

1. Laboratory setting

2. Field setting

Question 22

What are the characteristics of the laboratory setting ?

Answer 22

=mostly artificial setting
+ control over extraneous variables (which could affect your dependent variable)
subcategory: simulation

Question 23

What are the characteristics of the field setting ?

Answer 23

= studying behavior in naturally environment
+ higher generalization
- no control over extraneous variables (confounding variables)

Question 24

What is a sample?

Answer 24

small subgroup of a larger population

Question 25

What does generalization mean?

Answer 25

that you can apply the findings of your sample study to the larger population

Question 26

What does random sample mean

Answer 26

if you sample randomly, every person has the equal chance of being chosen for your study

Question 27

Why do we use random sampling

Answer 27

- highest level of generality | - if you have the intention to apply it directly to real-life problems

Question 28

What is deception

Answer 28

when you either actively or passively mislead the participant - withholding information about the experiment

Question 29

What types of deception do we have ?

Answer 29

1. active deception | 2. passive deception

Question 30

What means active perception ?

Answer 30

That you really have the intention to withhold information about the study - misleading the purpose of the study - making false promises to the participants - providing misleading information to the participant - using placebos and not mentioned drugs - using pseudo-participants

Question 31

What is passive deception?

Answer 31

- unrecognized conditioning of the participants - concealed/invisible observations - unrecognized participant observations - using projective techniques and other personality tests

Question 32

Non response bias

Answer 32

if a large part of your participants fail to give answer you back or send you back the questionnaire

Question 33

What are the categories of deception?

Answer 33

1. Intentional deception | 2. Unintentional deception

Question 34

Intentional deception

Answer 34

not fully report details of your study

Question 35

Unintentional deception

Answer 35

not fully informing your participants what is the study about and what does it involve

Question 36

What is the problem with deception

Answer 36

elaborate hoax | - damage trust into research (less likely to act as a volunteer again in future studies

Question 37

What are the solutions for deception?

Answer 37

1. Role play 2. inform the participant that deception will be used 3. Debriefing

Question 38

What is economic sampling ?

Answer 38

that you have enough participants to ensure that your study will be valid

Question 39

Factors of economic sampling ?

Answer 39

1. Amount of acceptable error | 2. Expected magnitude of the populations

Question 40

What is sampling error ?

Answer 40

that the characteristics of the sample differ from the characteristics of the population

Question 41

What means debriefing ?

Answer 41

informing the participant after the study about used deception and the general purpose of the study Goal: restore participant's self esteem