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Threats to Validity
Validity refers to how accurate or trustworthy the research findings are (Cozby & Bates, 2015). There are various types of validity that researchers evaluate. Internal validity refers to accuracy in the cause-and-effect relationship. This relates to how confident we are that the observed relationship between the independent and dependent variables in the study is accurate. External validity, on the other hand, deals with our confidence in being able to generalize the results of the study to other populations and settings. That is, are our results trustworthy only for our sample, or can we assume that the same relationship is observed in other samples and locations. The concept of validity, and particularly internal validity, is mostly applicable to experimental and quasi-experimental studies. Studies with experimental and quasi-experimental designs have the possibility of establishing a causal relationship among variables of interest. However, correlational studies, such as the current study, do not provide researchers with confidence about casual relationship among variables. That is, a researcher cannot make causal relationships based on correlational studies. Researchers working with correlational studies could make inferences on the relationship between variables but cannot specifically state that one variable caused changes in another. Thus, internal validity threats such as mortality, history, and selection are not applicable to this particular study. For example, since participants complete the survey once, there is no threat of significant changes in the participants to affect the confidence we have in the results. However, internal validity of the study of correlational studies are mostly concerned with validity of instruments used. Reliability and validity of measures used in this study has been reported in previous sections. External validity refers to our confidence in being able to generalize the study’s findings to other populations and settings. The current study employes a convenience sampling approach to data collection. Convenience sampling presents a threat to the study’s external validity as it provides the researcher with little confidence that the participants in the study are representative of the target population. Studies with probability sampling, in which each member of the target population has the same statistical chance of getting selected for the study, have higher external validity as compared with studies using convenience sampling. Ethical Procedures
Summary
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This assignment requires you to examine the concept of validity in research studies and understand the potential threats that can affect it. You will also need to analyze how ethical procedures are incorporated into research design. To make this task easier, let’s break it down step by step.
Step-by-Step Guidelines for Writing the Threats to Validity Section:
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Understanding Validity:
- Begin by defining validity as the accuracy and trustworthiness of the research findings. Mention the two main types of validity that researchers evaluate: internal validity and external validity.
- Internal validity is concerned with the cause-and-effect relationships within the study, while external validity pertains to the generalizability of the findings to broader populations and settings.
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Explaining Internal Validity:
- Discuss the importance of internal validity in experimental and quasi-experimental studies. These designs allow researchers to establish causal relationships among variables.
- Highlight that correlational studies (like the one in the assignment) do not establish causal relationships. Instead, they examine relationships between variables, without concluding one variable causes another.
- List and describe threats to internal validity, such as mortality, history, and selection. However, emphasize that these threats do not apply to correlational studies like the one in your assignment.
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Focusing on the Instrument Validity:
- In correlational studies, internal validity concerns the reliability and validity of the instruments used to collect data (e.g., surveys, tests).
- Mention that your study has reported the reliability and validity of the instruments used, ensuring the accuracy of the data collected.
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Discussing External Validity:
- Explain that external validity is about whether the findings of the study can be generalized to other populations and settings.
- In this assignment, the study uses convenience sampling, which may limit external validity. Convenience sampling may not accurately represent the broader target population, posing a threat to external validity.
- Compare this to probability sampling, which provides each member of the target population an equal chance of being selected, thereby enhancing external validity.
Step-by-Step Guidelines for Writing the Ethical Procedures Section:
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Discuss Ethical Procedures:
- Start by briefly introducing the importance of ethics in research. Ethical considerations are crucial in ensuring that the study is conducted in a way that respects participants’ rights and well-being.
- Provide an overview of ethical procedures commonly followed in research, such as informed consent, confidentiality, and the right to withdraw.
- Mention any specific ethical guidelines or frameworks that the research adheres to. These could include adherence to institutional review boards (IRB) or guidelines from reputable research organizations.
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Connect Ethical Procedures to the Study:
- Relate ethical procedures to your study. For example, explain how participants’ data is handled confidentially or how they were informed of the study’s purpose and their role.
- Discuss how the ethical principles applied in your study ensure the reliability and integrity of the findings.
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Conclusion on Ethics and Validity:
- Conclude by reinforcing the importance of both ethical procedures and validity in research. Highlight that maintaining ethical standards in data collection and analysis ensures the study’s credibility, while understanding and addressing validity threats strengthens the overall research quality.
Proofreading and Final Steps:
- After writing, review your work to ensure that all aspects of the assignment are covered clearly and concisely.
- Ensure your work is structured well, with each section building upon the previous one.
- Proofread for grammatical and spelling errors, and ensure the APA format is followed throughout your paper.
- Submit your completed assignment on time after carefully reviewing the rubric and guidelines.
By following these steps, you will be able to write a detailed and insightful paper on threats to validity and ethical procedures in research. This structured approach will help you understand and explain the concepts clearly, making your paper both comprehensive and well-organized.
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