PSY 510 Research Methods Midterm
Questions and Correct Answers
Internal, external, construct, and statistical conclusion - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The four main
types of validity are: ____, ____, ____, and _____
Internal Validity - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The extent to which an investigation rules out
plausible alternative explanations of the results
Temporal Precedence - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Need to assure that A really does come before B
in the analysis (threat to internal validity)
Selection - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The presence of systematic differences between groups
before an experimental manipulation (threat to internal validity)
History - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Any event (other than the IV) occurring in or out of the study
that can explain the results (i.e., provides for an alternative hypothesis) (threat to internal
validity)
Maturation - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Processes (within subjects) that change over time that are
unrelated to the study's variables of interest (e.g., growing older, wiser, stronger) (threat to
internal validity)
Regression to the Mean - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Tendency for extreme scores on a measure to
revert or regress toward the distribution mean when it is re-administered (threat to internal
validity)
Attrition - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Significant or differential loss of subjects over time (threat to
internal validity)
, Testing - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The effects that taking a test one time can have on subsequent
test performance (threat to internal validity)
Instrumentation - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Changes in the measuring instrument or measurement
procedure over time (threat to internal validity)
External Validity - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The extent to which the results of an investigation can
be generalized beyond the conditions of the study to other populations, settings, and
circumstances
Sample Characteristics - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The degree to which one is able to generalize
from the sample included in a given RCT to other individuals who vary across certain
demographic characteristics (threat to external validity)
Stimulus Characteristics - <CORRECT ANSWER >>One's ability to generalize beyond the specific
aspects or stimuli of a given investigation (threat to external validity)
Multiple-Treatment Interference - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Results may be due in part to the
context or series of conditions (e.g., "kitchen sink" approach) (threat to external validity)
Reactivity - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The influence of the subjects' awareness that they are
participating in a study (threat to external validity)
Reactivity of Assessment - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Subjects may react differently because they
know they are being assessed (e.g., self-report bias) (threat to external validity)
Pretest Sensitization - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Pretest administration may affect the way
subjects respond to the treatment (e.g., more amenable) (threat to external validity)
Timing of Measurement - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Temporal dimension in outcome research
becomes a potential concern: 1) length of time between posttreatment and followup
Questions and Correct Answers
Internal, external, construct, and statistical conclusion - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The four main
types of validity are: ____, ____, ____, and _____
Internal Validity - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The extent to which an investigation rules out
plausible alternative explanations of the results
Temporal Precedence - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Need to assure that A really does come before B
in the analysis (threat to internal validity)
Selection - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The presence of systematic differences between groups
before an experimental manipulation (threat to internal validity)
History - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Any event (other than the IV) occurring in or out of the study
that can explain the results (i.e., provides for an alternative hypothesis) (threat to internal
validity)
Maturation - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Processes (within subjects) that change over time that are
unrelated to the study's variables of interest (e.g., growing older, wiser, stronger) (threat to
internal validity)
Regression to the Mean - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Tendency for extreme scores on a measure to
revert or regress toward the distribution mean when it is re-administered (threat to internal
validity)
Attrition - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Significant or differential loss of subjects over time (threat to
internal validity)
, Testing - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The effects that taking a test one time can have on subsequent
test performance (threat to internal validity)
Instrumentation - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Changes in the measuring instrument or measurement
procedure over time (threat to internal validity)
External Validity - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The extent to which the results of an investigation can
be generalized beyond the conditions of the study to other populations, settings, and
circumstances
Sample Characteristics - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The degree to which one is able to generalize
from the sample included in a given RCT to other individuals who vary across certain
demographic characteristics (threat to external validity)
Stimulus Characteristics - <CORRECT ANSWER >>One's ability to generalize beyond the specific
aspects or stimuli of a given investigation (threat to external validity)
Multiple-Treatment Interference - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Results may be due in part to the
context or series of conditions (e.g., "kitchen sink" approach) (threat to external validity)
Reactivity - <CORRECT ANSWER >>The influence of the subjects' awareness that they are
participating in a study (threat to external validity)
Reactivity of Assessment - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Subjects may react differently because they
know they are being assessed (e.g., self-report bias) (threat to external validity)
Pretest Sensitization - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Pretest administration may affect the way
subjects respond to the treatment (e.g., more amenable) (threat to external validity)
Timing of Measurement - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Temporal dimension in outcome research
becomes a potential concern: 1) length of time between posttreatment and followup
