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Understanding of the research methods
Understanding of the research methods
Understanding of the research methods
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Validity is the method and design used to conduct a research study and is important because it is the evaluation and presentation of information within a study as the truth (Cozby, 2014). In other words, validity is the pertinence of the tools, processes used and the resulting data (Leung, 2015) used in a research study. There are four types of validity in research, 1) conclusion, 2) internal, 3) external and 4) construct, however, this discussion is limited to internal, external and construct validity.
Internal validity is the establishment of a cause and effect relationship with variables in the research study and there being no other variables that might impact the cause and effect outcome. External is the application of research results
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Internal validity is the design, construct validity is the measure, and external validity is the expanded sample application of the study research (Trochim, Donnelly & Arora, 2016).
Internal Validity
Internal validity research is conducted in a controlled or laboratory setting where the researcher will regulate variables to create cause and effect relationships between variables, thus limiting the external influences the resulting relationship. The researcher utilizes two variables to conduct the experiment and measure results of the research, called the independent and dependent variables. The first is the independent variable or cause, which is changed by the researcher and
the second is the dependent variable or effect, which is the response to the first variable. A researcher will go through iterations of changing the independent variable to assess any changes to the results with the purpose of drawing a conclusion about cause and effect on the
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The first and most obvious is the thought process placed in building the testing structure of the research being conducted. This includes the translation of participant’s behaviors or beliefs into numerical values which are meaningful to the researcher. If the structure is not accurate enough, it may result in validation of a theory that is incorrect and opposite the results of other research studies.
External Validity Quite the opposite of internal validity specificity, external validity is more generalized in its study results because it is expected to replicate across a larger population. External validity uses real world conditions, which are less controlled, to allow the researcher's results to take form. The researcher, like internal validity, utilizes changing the independent variable to observe the cause and effect results. The results or conclusions derived from the study can be applied to the larger population (Cozby,
The sampling procedures that can be utilized in evaluation research is vast. The selected sampling procedure is important in the consideration of external validity. External validity generalizes the findings to individuals in the study sample with characteristics that are alike (DiClemente et al., 2013). Although, not all research studies will require a sampling procedure that would deliver an external validity.
Internal locus of control is how you as a person dictates how their work or personal life is going to go. Meaning the results of something is based on ones behaviors and actions. For example, getting the new job promotion and you knowing that you got the job for your hard work and not because you think, it is out of pure luck.
1.4 face validity is the evaluation which the items in a scale adequately measure the construct. Face validity can be judged after the measure has been developed by potential measurement
The scientific method is how psychologists gain knowledge about the mind and behavior. It is used by all scientists. The experimental method is the one way to engage the scientific method, and the only way to find a cause and effect in relationships. It is summarized in five steps, observing some phenomenon in the world, forming a hypothesis which is an educated prediction about relationships between two or more variables, examining the gathered information by using empirical research, determining what the results are and drawing them, and evaluating the results whether it will support the hypothesis or not. Researchers, at the end, submit their work for publication for all to see and read (King, 2016). There are three types of psychological research in the scientific method, descriptive research, correlation, and experimental research (King, 2016). The article The Effects of Negative Body Talk in an Ethnically Diverse Sample of College Students (Katrevich, Register, & Aruguete, 2014) is an example of the experimental method.
Internal validity, unlike external and construct validity, deals with causal relationships. In other words, the question is whether any additional research that is found is actually associated with the study that is being conducted. The question, again, is whether we can be confident that the outcome of the study is a result of the experiment itself. What this means is that internal validity is the extent to which a change in a given variable is caused by the change in another variable.
Internal reasons as defined by Williams is as such ‘A has a reason to φ’ in comparison to an external reason which would be ‘there is a reason for A to φ’ (Williams p101). He continuous on to say the simplest model for internal reasons is ‘A has a reason to φ iff A has some desire the satisfaction of which will be served by his φ-ing’ (Williams 101) this sub-Humean model however seems too simple and therefore Williams expands it as so. An individuals reason statement is the agent’s subjective motivational set, referred to as S. The following four points constitutes features of internal reasons statement (Williams p102-103):
What is Internalism? Internalists argue that someone is justified about something if the thinker can recognize things from the inside. Only things that one has “first-person access” are relevant to see if a belief is reasonable or not.“Internalism treats justification as a purely internal matter: If p is justified for S, then S must be aware (or at least be immediately capable of being aware) of what makes it justified and
The father of quantitative analysis, Rene Descartes, thought that in order to know and understand something, you have to measure it (Kover, 2008). Quantitative research has two main types of sampling used, probabilistic and purposive. Probabilistic sampling is when there is equal chance of anyone within the studied population to be included. Purposive sampling is used when some benchmarks are used to replace the discrepancy among errors. The primary collection of data is from tests or standardized questionnaires, structured interviews, and closed-ended observational protocols. The secondary means for data collection includes official documents. In this study, the data is analyzed to test one or more expressed hypotheses. Descriptive and inferential analyses are the two types of data analysis used and advance from descriptive to inferential. The next step in the process is data interpretation, and the goal is to give meaning to the results in regards to the hypothesis the theory was derived from. Data interpretation techniques used are generalization, theory-driven, and interpretation of theory (Gelo, Braakmann, Benetka, 2008). The discussion should bring together findings and put them into context of the framework, guiding the study (Black, Gray, Airasain, Hector, Hopkins, Nenty, Ouyang, n.d.). The discussion should include an interpretation of the results; descriptions of themes, trends, and relationships; meanings of the results, and the limitations of the study. In the conclusion, one wants to end the study by providing a synopsis and final comments. It should include a summary of findings, recommendations, and future research (Black, Gray, Airasain, Hector, Hopkins, Nenty, Ouyang, n.d.). Deductive reasoning is used in studies...
Motivation can come from internal sources (intrinsic), which have psychological and biological variables or from external (extrinsic) sources like incentives and goals (Deckers, 2010). Intrinsic motivation develops in individuals to give them their own personalities and preferences towards specific behaviors, examples include participating in certain activities or sports because you find them enjoyable or doing a Sudoku puzzle because it is a challenge you find fun or interesting. In these examples, an individual’s behavior is motivated by something internal that makes them want to participate in the activity just to do it (Cherry, 2013). Extrinsic motivation is when an individual performs...
A researcher uses an experiment to scientifically test out a hypothesis. In an experiment there are many different factors that are involved. There is the independent variable, which is the cause, it is the one that is being manipulated, and the dependent variable, which is the effect, is the response. When conducting a experiment it is important to make sure that the only thing than can affect the dependent variable is the independent variable. This is known as internal validity. Using random assignment to separate the participants into groups helps eliminate any outside factors, and creates an equal chance for all participants to be apart of the experimental conditions. There are many pros and cons to this type of method. The experimental method creates a strong control of the variables involved in the experiment, which allows an easier determination on cause and effect. If needed, it is fairly easy to replicate an experiment and is less time consuming than other research methods. However there are many downfalls as well. When conducting an experiment the setting of where the experiment is taking place is more artificial which may cause certain behaviors that wouldn’t occur in real life. This is known as external validity, which is the measure of how much the results of a study can be generalized and used in different situations, and people. To improve external validity cover stories are created when conducting experiments so the participants are not aware of what is really going on, or experiments are done in a natural setting as opposed to in a laboratory. However, this creates less control over confounding variables that can affect the experiment, which can create bias results (Aronson,
Having an internal locus of control means that our successes and failures come from the amount of effort we put forth. People who are internals will hard for what they think they need in life. They won't blame their failures on anything else, but their own mistakes and not trying hard enough. Those who have an external locus of control will tend to believe that their success and failures come from luck or fate. They don't think they have to work for what they need in life, because the world will provide for
Externality is defined as, the effect (cost or benefit) by a party to another party who is not given the choice between cost and the benefit.
An intrinsic motivation is characterized as a motivation for the sack of doing it. There is no external reward for completing the specific task in intrinsic motivation. The motivation come from the person 's desire to complete the task because they know the task itself is rewarding enough. An internal motivation differs slightly from intrinsic motivation. Internal motivation is strictly from the desire and willingness of the person to complete the task. External motivation is a motivation factored by outside influences. Whether the outside influence is negative or positive, the motivation comes from money, grades, awards, tokens, criticism, or punishments.
The first method to be discussed and analysed are experimental methods. There is a variety of experimental methods including; laboratory, field and natural experiments. These methods are the most scientific method due to them being highly objective and systematic. In addition, this method is regarded as the most powerful research method used in psychology because of the potential to investigate the causes of events and therefore, identifying the cause and effect relationship. When carrying out an experiment the researcher intervenes directly in the situation being investigated. The researcher manipulates an independent variable (IV) in order to investigate whether there is a change in the dependent variable (DV). Any other variables that could have an
Internally caused behaviors are those that are believed to be under the personal control of the individual. Externally caused behavior is seen as resulting from outside causes; that is, the person is seen as having been forced into the behavior by the situation.