year 13

• validity


  whether something is true or legitimate

  • internal= measure of results is solely obtained by the manipulation of the IV
  • external= whether the data can be generalised outside the research environment
• Ecological Validity


  the data can be applied to other settings such as everyday life
• Temporal validity


  the ability of the data to be applied across time
• Assesments of validity

  Face Validity

  • if the test appears to test what its says it does, done by specialist in area

  concurrent validity

  • data is compared and tested against a previously trusted and recognised test in the same field
• Improving validity


  Experiments

  • control group/ extraneous variables controlled
  • single/double-blind test
  • standardised instructions

  Observation

  • behavioural categories
  • covert observations

  Interviews

  • face expressions not seen e.g. on phone
  • make notes about body language but discount when lying

  Questionnaires

  • lie scale- check consistency of answers
  • anonymous responses e.g. online
  • social desirability scale e.g. have you lied?
• Reliability


  measure of consistency- relocation of test and get the same results

  Test-retest

  • same person/group of people asked to repeat the test at another time
  • need to be aware of demand characteristics
  • standardised procedures
  • run correlational analysis to compare results

  Inter-Observer reliability

  • extent to which observers behave in a consistent way
  • behavioural studies
  • pilot study to see if observers are similar/ get similar results
• Improve Reliability


  Questionaires

  • test-retest

  Interview

  • test-retest

  Experiments

  • Test-retest

  Observationaly

  • Inter-observer reliability
• What is the definition of replicability in science?


  Ability to conduct research again and achieve similar results
• Why is a standardised procedure important in scientific research?


  It ensures consistency and reliability in results
• What does falsifiability mean in the context of a hypothesis?


  It means that a hypothesis can be proved wrong
• What is a null hypothesis?


  It suggests that any difference or relationship is due to chance
• What is theory construction in science?


  • Theory: set of principles to explain certain behaviours/events
  • Evidence must be collected to support the theory
  • Experiments are devised to examine ideas
  • Patterns/trends discovered can lead to theory construction (inductive process)
• What is required for hypothesis testing?


  It must be objective and measurable
• What does hypothesis testing clarify?


  Whether a clear decision has been made about if the hypothesis is supported or rejected
• Paradigm


  set of assumptions and methods within a particular discipline
• Paradigm shift


  when scientists challenge and existing and accepted paradigm

  • more and more research added to contradict the paradigm
• Objectivity


  researchers ability to not let their personal opinion interfere with the data
• Empirical method


  idea that knowledge is gained from a direct experiences in an objective, systematic and controlled manner to produce quantitative data

  • cannot create knowledge based on belief alone it needs to be empirically tested