Understanding Validity in Psychology

What does the term "validity" mean in the context of psychological research?

• The consistency of results when a study is repeated

• The extent to which a study measures what it claims to measure

• The number of participants included in a study

• The ethical standards followed during a study

Which of the following is the correct definition of internal validity?

• The extent to which findings can be generalised to other settings and populations

• The degree to which a study is free from ethical issues

• The extent to which the results of a study are due to the manipulation of the independent variable rather than extraneous variables

• The consistency of a measuring tool over time

What is external validity?

• The degree to which a test measures the concept it is intended to measure

• The extent to which findings from a study can be generalised beyond the original research context

• The ability to replicate a study under identical conditions

• The accuracy of the data collection tools used in a study

Which of the following is an example of a threat to internal validity?

• Using a sample that is not representative of the wider population

• Conducting a study in an artificial laboratory environment

• Demand characteristics influencing participants' behaviour

• Failing to replicate findings in a different country

A psychologist conducts a study using only university students as participants. Which type of validity is most likely to be threatened by this sampling choice?

• Internal validity, because the independent variable is not properly controlled

• Population validity, because the findings may not generalise to people of different ages and backgrounds

• Ecological validity, because the study was conducted in an unnatural setting

• Concurrent validity, because the results cannot be compared to existing measures

A study on obedience conducted in a laboratory finds high levels of obedience among participants. A critic argues the findings lack ecological validity. Which of the following best explains this criticism?

• The sample size was too small to draw meaningful conclusions

• The artificial nature of the laboratory setting means the behaviour observed may not reflect how people behave in real-life situations

• The independent variable was not properly operationalised during the study

• The study was not replicated enough times to confirm the results

A researcher uses a questionnaire to measure anxiety but the questions mostly assess stress. Which type of validity is most threatened?

• External validity

• Construct validity

• Ecological validity

• Population validity

• What type of validity assesses how well the test represents all aspects of the variable being measured.

• face validity

• content

• construct

• concurrent

What type of validity involves comparing results of your current test to another already well established test?

• face

• content

• construct

• concurrent

What type of validity refers to how well a survey or test measures the the theory / concept that it sets out to measure and not other topics or variables not being studied?

• face

• content

• concurrent

• construct