Reliability v. Validity
What does reliability measure in a research study?
What is consistency of the measurement.
Name two types of research methods used in psychology.
What is case study, naturalistic observation, survey, correlation, or experiment.
What is the primary purpose of the APA Ethics Code?
What is to guide psychologists in ethical decision-making and ensure safety and fairness.
What is the goal of basic science?
What is to increase knowledge for its own sake, without immediate practical application.
Give an example of a valid test that is not reliable.
Ex. What is a survey with random questions about intelligence that happen to measure intelligence but inconsistently.
What is the main advantage of using an experiment over other research methods?
What is allows researchers to determine for cause and effect.
List two ways psychologists maintain confidentiality.
What is keeping records secure, sharing information only with consent or as required by law.
What is the main focus of applied science?
What is to solve practical problems or improve specific outcomes.
What is the main difference between reliability and validity?
What is reliability refers to consistency, while validity refers to whether a test measures what it claims to measure.
In research, what is the difference between the independent variable and the dependent variable?
What is the independent variable is manipulated, while the dependent variable is measured.
True or False: Psychologists can conduct experiments that cause lasting harm to participants as long as it’s for scientific advancement.
What is False.
Is studying how memory works an example of basic or applied science?
What is basic science.
A scale is consistent in measuring weight but always shows 5 pounds too much. Is this reliable, valid, both, or neither?
What is reliability but not validity.
What is a limitation of using a survey as a research method?
What is participants may provide dishonest answers or misunderstand questions.
A psychologist notices an ethical violation by a colleague. What should they do first?
What is attempt to resolve the issue by bringing it to the colleague’s attention first.
A psychologist designs a program to reduce workplace stress. Is this basic or applied science?
What is applied science.
Combine the concepts of reliability and validity: Can a measurement tool be valid if it’s not reliable? Explain your answer.
What is No, a tool cannot be valid without being reliable because consistent measurement is necessary to determine accuracy.
Give an example of a correlation and explain why it does not imply causation.
Ex. What is ice cream sales and crime rates – both increase in summer, but one does not cause the other.
What does WEIRD stand for, and why is it significant in psychological research?
What is Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic – Most studies are conducted on WEIRD populations, which limits generalizability
Give an example of a basic science discovery that led to applied science solutions.
What is understanding brain chemistry (basic) leading to developing medications for mental illnesses (applied).