Summary of Validity - Research Methods [A-Level Psychology]

Main Ideas

• Definition of Validity: Validity refers to the accuracy and truthfulness of research findings in psychology. It questions whether the results genuinely reflect the behavior being studied.
• Types of Validity:
  • Internal Validity: Concerns whether the independent variable truly caused the observed changes in the dependent variable, free from confounding variables.
  • External Validity: Relates to the generalizability of the findings to real-world situations and different populations.
• Subcategories of External Validity:
  • Ecological Validity: The extent to which findings can be generalized to other settings.
  • Mundane Realism: How similar the experimental task is to real-life situations.
  • Population Validity: The degree to which findings can be generalized to a broader population.
  • Temporal Validity: Whether findings are applicable across different time periods.
• Assessing Validity:
  • Face Validity: Whether a measure appears to assess what it is intended to measure.
  • Criterion Validity: Evaluated through concurrent and predictive Validity, which involve comparing a new measure against an established one or predicting future outcomes based on current measures.
• Improving Validity:
  • For internal Validity, researchers should control extraneous variables through methods like random allocation, standard procedures, and blinding.
  • For external Validity, replication of studies in various settings and with diverse populations can enhance generalizability.

Methodology/Instructions

• Assessing Validity:
  • Check for face Validity by evaluating if the measure seems appropriate for what it intends to measure.
  • Establish criterion Validity by comparing scores from a new test with an established test (concurrent Validity) or predicting future performance (predictive Validity).
• Improving Internal Validity:
  • Use random allocation to minimize bias.
  • Implement standardized procedures for consistency.
  • Consider counterbalancing to control for order effects.
  • Utilize single and double-blind designs to reduce bias.
• Improving External Validity:
  • Conduct replications in various environmental settings.
  • Include diverse demographic samples in studies.
  • Consider modern-day replications of classic studies to assess temporal Validity.

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