Reliability and Validity of a Study Flashcards

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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?

Ecological validity refers to whether the situation is common or natural and relates primarily to external validity. Signup and view all the answers

What is a confounding variable, and which type of validity do these hurt if present in your study?

Confounding variables are factors other than the independent variable that may cause a result; they hurt internal validity. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for a study (or the relationship between variables) to be reliable?

It indicates the degree to which the relationship found in the study is reproducible. Signup and view all the answers

What is literal replication?

It is exactly the same as the past experiment. Signup and view all the answers

What is conceptual replication?

It involves changing a variable or testing it differently, where not everything is literally the same. Signup and view all the answers

What is a hypothetical construct?

Abstract concepts that cannot be directly observed or measured, such as happiness, love, learning, attention, and emotional intelligence. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to operationalize a variable?

To define a variable by the specific operations used to measure it. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative variables?

Qualitative variables are non-numeric and based on type or characteristics, whereas quantitative variables are numeric and based on the amount of the variable. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four measurement scales?

Nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio. Signup and view all the answers

What is a nominal measurement scale?

It represents qualitative differences, categories, or types with no ordering. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ordinal measurement scale?

It varies in amount and is quantitative, but each interval isn't necessarily the same. Signup and view all the answers

What is an interval measurement scale?

It is quantitative with equally spaced intervals, but it does not have a true zero. Signup and view all the answers

What is a ratio measurement scale?

It is quantitative and has a true zero, indicating the absence of the measured attribute. Signup and view all the answers

What types of methods do psychologists use to collect data?

Response performance and questionnaires. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between an open-ended and closed-ended response format in questionnaires?

Open-ended responses allow a wider range of responses, while closed-ended responses are more objective and easier to analyze. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for a measure to be reliable?

It indicates the degree to which measurements are consistent, stable, and repeatable. Signup and view all the answers

What is Cronbach's alpha and how is it used to determine internal consistency?

Cronbach's alpha expresses internal consistency by assessing whether multiple questions of the same type are answered similarly. Signup and view all the answers

What is inter-rater reliability and why is it important?

Inter-rater reliability measures how well different raters or scorers agree with each other. Signup and view all the answers

What is test-retest reliability?

It measures how stable people's responses are over time. Signup and view all the answers

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.