Validity

Flashcards about types of validity, how to assess validity and how to improve validity.

What is validity?

At its core, validity is about truthfulness and accuracy. It questions whether a claim or measurement is believable and reliable. In essence, it asks, 'Can I trust this information?'

What is validity in psychological research?

In psychological research, validity refers to the accuracy and truth of an observed effect. It determines whether the findings from an experiment, observation, or investigation accurately reflect the phenomenon being studied.

What is questioning internal validity?

Questioning internal validity involves assessing whether the independent variable truly caused the observed change in the dependent variable. It considers if extraneous factors or confounding variables influenced the results.

What is questioning external validity?

Questioning external validity examines whether the findings from a study can be generalized beyond the specific experimental conditions or the group studied. It assesses the applicability of the results to real-world settings and broader populations.

What is internal validity?

Internal validity focuses on causality, determining whether the independent variable directly caused the change in the dependent variable. It addresses whether the observed effect is genuinely due to the experimental manipulation or other factors.

Examples of when an experiment would lack internal validity

Experiments can lack internal validity due to biases and effects. Social desirability bias, demand characteristics, investigator effects, and conscious or unconscious researcher bias can compromise the integrity of the results.

What does external validity consider?

External validity considers the generalizability of findings, including the study setting, the naturalism of the task, the time the study was conducted, and the characteristics of the participants.

What is ecological validity?

Ecological validity assesses whether the findings from a study in one setting can be generalized to other settings, considering the similarity of the environments and conditions.

What is mundane realism?

Mundane realism refers to how closely the tasks in a study resemble real-life or naturalistic behaviors, ensuring the experimental situation reflects everyday experiences.

When do we consider population validity?

Population validity is considered when generalizing findings from a sample to the broader population, ensuring the sample is representative and the results are applicable to the larger group.

What is temporability?

Temporability is concerned with whether a finding can be applied across different time periods, assessing the stability and relevance of the results over time.

What is face validity?

Face validity questions whether a measure appears to be measuring what it intends to measure, relying on subjective judgment to assess the appropriateness of the measure.

What is criterion validity?

Criterion validity involves matching the scores gained from a measure to another criterion or standard, assessing the measure's accuracy and consistency with established benchmarks.

What is concurrent validity?

Concurrent validity compares a new test to an older, established test, determining if the new test produces similar results to the well-validated measure.

What is predictive validity?

Predictive validity assesses the extent to which a measure can accurately predict future outcomes or behaviors, indicating the measure's ability to forecast future performance.

What techniques for controlling a study should reduce the chance that the results themselves are due to issues like bias and poorly controlled experiments?

Techniques for controlling a study, such as random allocation, standardized procedures, counterbalancing, single and double-blinding, and peer review, reduce bias and improve experimental control, ensuring the results are reliable.

How can external validity be improved?

External validity is improved mainly through replication, where the experimental procedure is repeated in multiple environmental settings to demonstrate ecological validity and ensure consistent findings across different contexts.