Validity and reliability

• What does validity assume about a test?

  It assumes that the test precisely measures what it claims to measure.
• What are the types of validity discussed in the study material?

  • Internal Validity
  • External Validity
• What is internal validity?

  It is whether the results were due to the manipulation of the independent variable rather than extraneous variables.
• What is external validity?

  It is the extent to which you can generalize findings to situations beyond the study.
• What are the aspects of external validity mentioned in the study material?

  • Temporal validity
  • Population validity
  • Ecological validity
  • Geographical validity
• What does temporal validity refer to?

  It refers to whether the findings can be applied to modern times.
• What does population validity refer to?

  It refers to whether the results can be applied to other people.
• What does ecological validity refer to?

  It refers to whether the findings are true to real life.
• What does geographical validity refer to?

  It refers to whether the results can be applied to a different area.
• What is reliability in the context of research?

  It is the consistency of findings or results.
• How is reliability illustrated in the example of mushroom soup?

  It is illustrated by consistently finding mushroom soup in a can labeled baked beans.
• Why are the results in the mushroom soup example not valid?

  Because the can labeled baked beans does not contain baked beans, thus misrepresenting the truth.
• What is the difference between reliability and validity in research?

  • Reliability: Consistency of results
  • Validity: Accuracy of what the test measures