Questions and Answers
What does it mean for a study (or the relationship between variables) to be valid?
It refers to a test's ability to measure what it is supposed to measure.
What is the difference between internal and external validity?
Internal validity is how strongly we can draw conclusions about the relationship between variables within a study. External validity is whether the results generalize to other individuals or situations.
How does internal/external validity usually relate within the context of an experiment?
The degree to which the relationship found in the study is reproducible, stable, and consistent.
How is ecological validity related to one or both of these?
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What is a confounding variable, and which type of validity do these hurt if present in your study?
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What does it mean for a study (or the relationship between variables) to be reliable?
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What is literal replication?
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What is conceptual replication?
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What is a hypothetical construct?
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What does it mean to operationalize a variable?
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What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative variables?
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What are the four measurement scales?
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What is a nominal measurement scale?
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What is an ordinal measurement scale?
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What is an interval measurement scale?
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What is a ratio measurement scale?
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What types of methods do psychologists use to collect data?
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What is the difference between an open-ended and closed-ended response format in questionnaires?
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What does it mean for a measure to be reliable?
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What is Cronbach's alpha and how is it used to determine internal consistency?
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What is inter-rater reliability and why is it important?
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What is test-retest reliability?
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Study Notes
Validity of a Study
- Validity measures the ability of a study to accurately assess what it intends to measure.
- Internal validity relates to the strength of conclusions about relationships between variables within the study; confounding variables can weaken it.
- External validity assesses whether study results can be generalized to broader circumstances, requiring a representative sample and ecological validity.
Relationship Between Validity Types
- Internal and external validity connect through reproducibility; findings should be repeatable and consistent.
- Ecological validity focuses on the naturalness of the study situation, affecting external validity.
Confounding Variables
- Confounding variables are extraneous factors that may influence results, negatively impacting internal validity.
Reliability of a Study
- Reliability indicates how reproducible and stable the study findings are over time.
Replication Types
- Literal replication involves repeating the exact study, preserving original conditions.
- Conceptual replication varies the study parameters while testing the core hypothesis.
Hypothetical Constructs
- Abstract concepts such as happiness, love, and emotional intelligence cannot be directly observed or measured.
Operationalizing Variables
- Operationalizing involves defining variables through specific measurement operations, ensuring clarity and accessibility.
- For example, political activity can be measured by voting participation.
Types of Variables
- Qualitative variables are non-numeric and based on characteristics (e.g., hair color).
- Quantitative variables are numeric, reflecting amounts (e.g., frequency of behaviors).
Measurement Scales
- Four main measurement scales: nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio.
Nominal Measurement Scale
- Classifies variables into categories without a defined order (e.g., hair type, political affiliation).
Ordinal Measurement Scale
- Ranks items based on quantity, with unequal intervals (e.g., military ranks, educational levels).
Interval Measurement Scale
- Features equally spaced intervals and lacks a true zero (e.g., temperature, IQ scores).
Ratio Measurement Scale
- Quantitative scale with a true zero point, indicating the absence of the variable (e.g., length, reaction time).
Data Collection Methods
- Common methods in psychology include response performance and surveys/questionnaires.
Questionnaire Response Formats
- Open-ended responses allow for diverse answers and can uncover new variables; content analysis is used to evaluate them.
- Closed-ended responses provide more objective data that is easier to analyze, often requiring forced choices.
Reliability in Measurement
- Reliability refers to the consistency and stability of measurements across time and contexts.
- Cronbach's alpha evaluates internal consistency; it measures how similarly multiple related questions are answered.
Inter-Rater Reliability
- Inter-rater reliability assesses agreement between different raters or scorers, crucial for consistency.
Test-Retest Reliability
- Test-retest reliability evaluates stability of responses over time, ensuring reliability in repeated measures.
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Description
This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to the reliability and validity of research studies. Learn about the definitions of validity and the difference between internal and external validity to deepen your understanding of study assessments.