Validity

Question 1

what is validity?

Answer 1

whether a psychological test, observation or experiment produce a result that is legitimate

Question 2

what are the types of validity?

Answer 2

• external validity
• internal validity
• temporal validity

Question 3

what is internal validity?

Answer 3

whether researcher has managed to measure what they intended to measure

Question 4

what is external validity?

Answer 4

extent to which findings can be generalised beyond the research setting they were found

Question 5

what is a major threat to the internal validity of a study?

Answer 5

if ppts respond to demand characteristics and act in a way they think is expected

Question 6

what does external validity relate to?

Answer 6

factors outside the investigation, e.g. generalising to other settings

Question 7

what is ecological validity?

Answer 7

• type of external validity
• generalising the findings from the study to other settings (e.g everyday life)

Question 8

what is temporal validity?

Answer 8

• whether findings from a particular study, concept or theory hold true over time

Question 9

what are the two validities when assessing validity?

Answer 9

• face validity
• concurrent validity

Question 10

what is face validity?

Answer 10

• whether a test, scale or measure appears ‘on the face of it’ to measure what it is supposed to

Question 11

what is concurrent validity?

Answer 11

when the results obtained on a scale or tests are very close or match those obtained by another well established test

Question 12

how do we improve the validity of experiments?

Answer 12

• using a control group
• standardise procedures
• use of single-blind and double blind procedures

Question 13

why do we use control groups to improve the validity of experiments?

Answer 13

• researcher is better able to assess whether changes to DV is due to effect of the IV

Question 14

why do we use standardised procedures to improve the validity of experiments?

Answer 14

• minimses the impact of participant reactivity and investigator effects on validity of outcome

Question 15

why do we use single-blind procedures to improve the validity of experiments?

Answer 15

• ppts aren’t aware of the aims of the study until they have taken part to reduce the effect of demand characteristics

Question 16

why do we use double-blind procedure to improve the validity of experiments?

Answer 16

• third party conducts investigation without knowing the main purpose
• reduces demand characteristics and investigator effects

Question 17

how do we improve the validity of questionnaires?

Answer 17

• many questionnaires and psychological tests incorporate a lie scale
• ensuring respondents submitting data are anonymous

Question 18

why are lie scales incorporated within questionnaires?

Answer 18

• to assess the consistency of a respondent’s response
• control for the effects of social desirability bias

Question 19

how do we improve the validity of observations?

Answer 19

• observations may produce findings that have high ecological val as there is minimal intervention by researcher
  = especially in covert observations
• behavioural categories that are too broad, overlapping and ambiguous can have a negative impact on validity

Question 20

how do we improve the validity of qualitative research?

Answer 20

• usually have higher ecological validity than quantitative
• depth and detail associated with case studies and interview are better able to reflect a participant’s reality
• researcher may still demonstrate interpretive validity of their conclusions
• enhanced through triangulation

Question 21

what is interpretive validity?

Answer 21

researcher’s interpretation of events matches that of their participants
- can be demonstrated through coherence of researcher’s narrative and direct quotes

Question 22

what is triangulation?

Answer 22

use of a number of different sources as evidences
- e.g. data compiled through interviews with friends and family, personal diaries and observations