Reliability and Validity

• What does reliability refer to in research?

  Reliability refers to the consistency of an outcome or result of an investigation.
• How can the way research is conducted affect its reliability?

  If standardized procedures aren't used, there might be variability in the procedure leading to unreliable findings.
• What impact does a biased sampling method have on reliability?

  A biased sampling method can lead to an outcome that might not be relied upon to occur again, resulting in different results if replicated.
• Why can independent measures design lead to unreliable findings?

  Independent measures design can lead to unreliable findings due to variability from participant variables.
• What is validity in research?

  Validity refers to the extent to which a study measures what it intends to measure.
• What are the two types of validity?

  The two types of validity are internal validity and external validity.
• What does internal validity assess?

  Internal validity assesses whether the measures used in a test genuinely test what they were designed to test.
• What does external validity assess?

  External validity assesses whether the findings are generalizable to the target population.
• How can sampling errors affect validity?

  If a sample error occurs, then the findings of the research are untrue of the target population, affecting external validity.
• How can participant allocation affect validity in experimental design?

  The way in which participants are allocated can affect validity, such as order effects in repeated measures design.
• What are order effects in repeated measures design?

  Order effects can result from fatigue or practice, which may affect the outcome and not the intended variable.
• What are demand characteristics in research?


  Demand characteristics can invalidate results, especially in repeated measures design.
• Why is reliability a concern in qualitative methods?

  Qualitative methods are not easy to replicate, which can lead to unreliable findings due to researcher involvement.
• What is triangulation in qualitative research?

  Triangulation is when more than one measure is taken for a behavior to make it more objective.
• How does qualitative research affect generalizability?

  Qualitative methods are likely to be restricted to specific individuals, which limits generalizability.
• What is the typical process in quantitative methods?

  Quantitative methods typically follow a scientific route starting with a hypothesis to test a theory.
• How do quantitative methods ensure objectivity?

  Quantitative methods allow researchers to remain detached from their participants, making the method more objective.
• What is the external validity of quantitative data?

  Quantitative data gathers facts and measures behavior that can be applied to the target population, leading to more generalizable results.
• What are the key differences between reliability and validity in research?

  • Reliability: Consistency of results across repeated measures.
  • Validity: Accuracy of measuring what it intends to measure.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative and quantitative methods regarding reliability and validity?

  Qualitative Methods:

  • Strengths: In-depth information, flexible.
  • Weaknesses: Hard to replicate, researcher bias.

  
  

  Quantitative Methods:

  • Strengths: Objective, generalizable results.
  • Weaknesses: May overlook context and depth.