Threats to Validity
One way to help ensure validity in research is to plan for possible threats when operationalizing the variables and choosing methodologies. Possible issues that arise with construct validity, internal validity, and external validity should be addressed during each phase of research construction. Following, is a discussion on common threats to each type of validity.
Threats to Construct Validity
There are two types of threats to construct validity: which are threats that arise due to flaws in the study’s construction and threats that arise from human nature (Trochim & Donnelly, 2008). Threats to construct validity that arise due to issues with a study’s design include not appropriately operationalizing the variables, conducting
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Threats to construct validity that arise due to issues with human nature include a instances where participants attempt to guess the purpose of the study, a phenomenon where participants experience episodes similar to test-taking anxiety where they have disproportionate fears of being observed and studied, thereby performing poorly, and unintentional influences on the participants due to researcher bias (Trochim & Donnelly, 2008).
Threats to Internal Validity
Creswell (2014) identified 10 types of threats to internal validity, which are “history, maturation, regression, selection, mortality, diffusion of treatment, compensatory/resentful demoralization, compensatory rivalry, testing, and instrumentation” (Creswell, 2014). History threats occur when
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Interaction of selection and treatment threats refer to instances when generalization cannot occur because of the limited characteristics of the selected participants. To address this issue, the researcher would need to explain why results could not be generalized and conduct additional experiments that include participants with traits different from the initial participant selection. Interaction of setting and treatment threats refer to instances when generalization cannot follow due to the characteristics of the research setting. To address this issue, the researcher should complete the experiment again in an alternative setting. Finally, interaction of history and treatment threats refers to instances when generalization cannot occur due to time constraints. To address this issue, the researcher should complete the experiment again later to see of the results can be replicated (Creswell,
... got very different results, however they had carried out the experiment in slightly different ways, making it difficult to compare results.
... more experienced or give some training in a bid to avoid careless mistakes during the experiment.
Going into details of the article, I realized that the necessary information needed to evaluate the experimental procedures were not included. However, when conducting an experiment, the independent and dependent variable are to be studied before giving a final conclusion.
In a research laboratory this could lead to wrong conclusions, wasted time and wasted
...s strength in the experiment rather than a limitation which future studies should also monitor.
The teachers would initiate a “shock” to the student every time they got an answer wrong, but the teachers were unaware that the shock was fake. As the experiment continued, the shocks became more severe, and the students would plead for the teacher to stop since they were in pain. Despite the fact, that the participants continuously asked the authoritative experimenter if they could stop, “...relatively few people [had] the resources needed to resist authority” (Cherry 5). The participants feared questioning the effectiveness of the experiment, or restraining from continuing in fear of losing their job, going to jail, or getting reprimanded by Yale. A majority of the participants were intimidated by the experimenter, hence why they continued to shock the students, even though they knew morally, it was incorrect what they were doing. This experiment concluded, “...situational variables have a stronger sway than personality factors in determining obedience...” (5). One's decisions are based on the situation they are facing. If someone is under pressure, they will resort to illogical decision making. There thoughts could potentially be altered due to fear, or hostility. In conclusion, the rash, incohesive state of mind, provoked by fear will eventually lead to the rise of
The sampling procedures that can be utilized in evaluation research is vast. The selected sampling procedure is important in the consideration of external validity. External validity generalizes the findings to individuals in the study sample with characteristics that are alike (DiClemente et al., 2013). Although, not all research studies will require a sampling procedure that would deliver an external validity.
Richards and Schwartz (2002) listed four potential risks to research participants in qualitative studies. These are
Ethics of Social Psychology Experiments Student Worksheet If you have not already carefully read the instructions for this assignment along with the descriptions of the ten social psychology experiments to consider, please go back and do so now. Now choose three (3) experiments for which you will answer the questions below. You are free to do outside research on any of them as you please. Please indicate your three choices here:
Research has discovered ways to reduce stereotype threat and I myself have thought of a study that could be done to reduce stereotype threat. Through several articles I was introduced to stereotype threat and how it is a problem in our society. When we are part of a negative stereotype it can limit us in performing a task to our fullest potential. Stereotype threat can cause higher anxiety levels, lower self-expectation, lack of motivation and can take our attention away from important things. Because of stereotype threat we face underachievement and inaccurate results in task performance. If my study were to be conducted I believe that it would help recognize another threat that exists and find out ways to reduce it. As attention to stereotype threat grows, research and studies should continue and focus on reducing stereotype threat in our society.
There is also the potential of human error within this experiment for example finding the meniscus is important to get an accurate amount using the graduated pipettes and burettes. There is a possibility that at one point in the experiment a chemical was measured inaccurately affecting the results. To resolve this, the experiment should have been repeated three times.
Ø All the experiments have to be done by the same person on the same
Now within the rest of this paper you will be finding a few different things getting discussed. Staring it off we will be discussing the articles that we have found to make our arguments and hypotheses. After wrapping up the literature reviews we will be discussing the hypotheses thus continuing onto our variables and indicators. Once we discuss our hypotheses we will be moving onto the research design. The research design will have our general issues, sampling, and methods.
...sis, which could make all results invalid. With any research projects, limitations will be present. It is important to attempt to eliminate some of these causes in order to complete a thorough, accurate study. In future projects, this study could go about researching the issue in different ways. Perhaps using a larger sample size would be conducive for accurate results. A larger sample size helps reduce and even out any possible errors caused by those who do not answer truthfully. Also, keeping the surveys mainly anonymous would help to receive more truthful and accurate responses from participants. Participants may be fearful of judgments on open interviews or phone interviews, which could affect responses. In order to obtain as accurate results as possible, a future study would need to find ways to survey participants in a confidential way that feels comfortable.
This can play a huge role in determining the results and comparing them to a more formal setting. If one assessment was done with a large population of people around and another assessment was done in a more private area or in isolation, would the results differ? There are many factors that can affect reliability and validity. It is very important that factors are controlled as much as possible to reduce their impact. This could be anything from a life event that affects a person’s mood or an environmental event that affects the surroundings of the particular study or research