8 Marker- Learning Theories
Q. Assess the contemporary study by Capafons et al. (1998) in terms of reliability and
validity.
AO1 AO3
A number of scales to assess the fear of These scales and other forms of objective
flying and objective measures (such as measures allow for a scientific method of
heart rate and body temperature) to assessment that can be easily replicated in
determine the fear response were used. other experiments, thus suggesting the high
This included the EMV scales, IDF-FV replicability of the experiment. Moreover,
scales and two EPAV scales. many of these scales were validated for
reliability.
The research was undertaken in a Since multiple variables that could
laboratory setting, which means that each otherwise confound the results of the
participant experienced the same stages of experiment were controlled, the experiment
the study in a very similar manner. For could be said to be highly standardized.
example, all the participants’ heart rate, This also suggests that the experiment
temperature and muscular tension were could be replicated to get consistent results,
measured for three minutes prior to the and so the experiment is said to have a
same video of a plane trip being shown. All high reliability.
participants were also told to “feel as
involved as possible” in the video.
Another method of assessing the Self-reporting data often lacks validity
participants’ fear of flying was by means of because participants choose an answer that
interview questions. Through this method, best matches their response rather than
participants relied on self-reporting. describing their view. In this respect, the
reliability of the experiment is low because
the participants are not responding truly,
thus potentially affecting the results of the
experiment and making it difficult to get
consistent results if the experiment were
replicated.
The sample used for this experiment was a This suggests that the sample chosen was
fairly homogenous sample. They all had a highly unrepresentative of the general
fear of flying and a desire to attend an population, since they shared multiple
intervention programme to improve their characteristics. Therefore, if the experiment
situation. Through the pre-test, the were to be replicated, it would be difficult to
researchers were able to conclude a similar assume similar results if the new sample
score between both groups. did not match the characteristics of this
homogeneous sample.
Q. Assess the contemporary study by Capafons et al. (1998) in terms of reliability and
validity.
AO1 AO3
A number of scales to assess the fear of These scales and other forms of objective
flying and objective measures (such as measures allow for a scientific method of
heart rate and body temperature) to assessment that can be easily replicated in
determine the fear response were used. other experiments, thus suggesting the high
This included the EMV scales, IDF-FV replicability of the experiment. Moreover,
scales and two EPAV scales. many of these scales were validated for
reliability.
The research was undertaken in a Since multiple variables that could
laboratory setting, which means that each otherwise confound the results of the
participant experienced the same stages of experiment were controlled, the experiment
the study in a very similar manner. For could be said to be highly standardized.
example, all the participants’ heart rate, This also suggests that the experiment
temperature and muscular tension were could be replicated to get consistent results,
measured for three minutes prior to the and so the experiment is said to have a
same video of a plane trip being shown. All high reliability.
participants were also told to “feel as
involved as possible” in the video.
Another method of assessing the Self-reporting data often lacks validity
participants’ fear of flying was by means of because participants choose an answer that
interview questions. Through this method, best matches their response rather than
participants relied on self-reporting. describing their view. In this respect, the
reliability of the experiment is low because
the participants are not responding truly,
thus potentially affecting the results of the
experiment and making it difficult to get
consistent results if the experiment were
replicated.
The sample used for this experiment was a This suggests that the sample chosen was
fairly homogenous sample. They all had a highly unrepresentative of the general
fear of flying and a desire to attend an population, since they shared multiple
intervention programme to improve their characteristics. Therefore, if the experiment
situation. Through the pre-test, the were to be replicated, it would be difficult to
researchers were able to conclude a similar assume similar results if the new sample
score between both groups. did not match the characteristics of this
homogeneous sample.
