Reliability and validity

Question 1

What is validity?

Answer 1

How accurate the results of an experiment are
(does it measure what it’s meant to)

Question 2

What is reliability?

Answer 2

the consistency/agreement of the measuring device

(Res needs to be repeatable and achieve same results on another occasion)

Question 3

How do psychologists improve reliability?
(4)

Answer 3

standardise instructions (ppt receive exactly same instruction)

carefully controlled prodcedures (make sure carry out experiment in exactly same way each time)

reducing confounding/extraneous variables

Use non biased sample

Question 4

What 2 ways can you assess reliability?

Answer 4

-Test-retest
-Interobserver reliability

Question 5

What’s test retest

Answer 5

Test taken on 2 occasions and results correlated)- correlation of 0.8 or above indicate high reliability

Question 6

What is inter-observer reliability?

Answer 6

Observers independently rate observation. Correlation of 0.8 or above indicate high reliability

Question 7

What is test-retest reliability?

Answer 7

To take the test twice and see if the results correlate

Question 8

What is internal validity?

Answer 8

Are the results of an experiment really due to IV affecting DV

Question 9

What is external validity?

Answer 9

Can generalize the results to real life situations

Question 10

Give the 3 types of external validity

Answer 10

Ecological
Temporal
Population

Question 11

What is ecological validity?

Answer 11

Can the results be generalized to other situations/places

Question 12

What is temporal validity?

Answer 12

Can the results be generalized to other times in history

Question 13

What is population validity?

Answer 13

Can the results be generalized to other people

Question 14

What are the 2 ways of assessing validity

Answer 14

Face validity
Concurrent validity

Question 15

Define face validity

Answer 15

does test look like it’s measuring what it’s meant to measure

Question 16

Define concurrent validity

Answer 16

does the test give a similar result to an existing similar test

Question 17

How can we improve validity in experiments

Answer 17

standardise procedures
Use control group
Reduce demand characteristics

Question 18

How can we improve validity in questionnaires

Answer 18

reduce social desirability bias
Anonymity
Check questions relate to whats been measured

Question 19

How can we improve validity in observations?

Answer 19

use covert observations
Use clear behavioural categories
Do pilot study
Train observers