PNB 3RM3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Construct Validity

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
• Course: PNB 3RM3
• Professor: Jennifer Ostovich

Document Summary

Internal validity - how well an experiment is done, especially whether it avoids confounding variables. We need an experiment with sound methodology. Tryon: wanted to show that the genes of these mice were really what was causing the effect. Random assignment to levels of the independent variable. External validity - refers to generalization of the research across populations, settings and species. Did research on americans and germans, with different ages (populations) Settings - different versions of the task, different colours on the test, different control colours. Ecological validity - the extent to which the responses seen in the research contact similar to that we would receive in the real world. How mundane your experiment is: it needs to be similar situations from what you"d see in real life. Mundane vs. psychological realism (aronson et al. , 1968) - creating a situation which really feels real to your subjects.