Validity (Accuracy)

Question 1

Internal Validity

Answer 1

There is accuracy within the study e.g. Is the researcher testing what they intended? Are there confounding/ extraneous variables affecting the research?

Question 2

External Validity

Answer 2

Can we generalise results outside of the study?

Question 3

Face Validity

Answer 3

Whether the questions etc… obviously measure the DV at face value e.g. does a questionnaire on sleep have questions obviously directly related to sleep?

Question 4

Predicative Validity

Answer 4

Whether predictions can be made successfully from the results of the study e.g. does an IQ test results successfully predict how well you do in GCSEs

Question 5

Content Validity

Answer 5

Whether method of measurement researches what is intended

Should ask an expert in the specific subject to evaluate this

Question 6

Ecological Validity

Answer 6

Whether it is true to real life conditions and the behaviour takes place in authentic environments

e.g. does a study on school children take place in a school?

Question 7

Construct Validity

Answer 7

Does the research test for all parts of a construct?

E.g. If someone wants to measure sleep are they looking at all aspects (Dreams, Hours slept, Quality of sleep)

Question 8

Concurrent Validity

Answer 8

Comparing current method of measuring DV to a test that already exists on the same subject

Participants may be given both tests to see if get similar results

Question 9

Temporal Validity

Answer 9

Does the study hold up over time, or do the findings become less relevant e.g. Bowlby’s study lacks temporal validity

Question 10

Population Validity

Answer 10

How accurate does the sample represent the wider population

e.g. if a sample only contains men there is low population validity as we can’t generalise to women