Evaluating research data and investigation methods

After researchers process their quantitative data, they are ready to make a conclusion.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Researchers must evaluate their research data and investigation methods in order to make high quality conclusions.

A conclusion is

• a summary of results that states whether the aim was met.

• a summary of results that states whether the hypothesis was supported or refuted.

Answer explanation

Conclusions comment on whether a hypothesis was supported or not, not whether ideas were proved or disproved.

Which of the following are important concepts researchers should apply when evaluating their research? (Select all that apply)

• Validity

• Reproducibility

• Repeatability

• Conclusivity

• True value

Answer explanation

True value and conclusivity are not concepts that help researchers to evaluate their investigation.

__________ assesses whether a study investigated what it intended to measure, whereas __________ assesses whether a study’s results can be applied to similar individuals in different settings.

• Internal validity; external validity

• External validity; internal validity

Answer explanation

Internal validity assesses whether a study investigated what it intended to measure, whereas external validity assesses whether a study’s results can be applied to similar individuals in different settings. Remember that internal validity concerns the present study only.

__________ is affected when there are random errors, whereas __________ is affected when there are systematic errors. 

Which of the following best fills in the blanks?

• Precision; accuracy

• Accuracy; precision

Answer explanation

Precision is affected when there are random errors, whereas accuracy is affected when there are systematic errors. Remember that precision concerns how closely a set of measurement values agree with each other, so if precision is lacking, random errors have occurred.

If researchers are very careful and use rigorous methods, they can produce findings with certainty.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Given the nature of some psychological phenomena being a more imprecise construct, such as intelligence, it is not always possible to measure things with certainty.

Validity is 

• the degree to which psychological tools, findings, and studies are factual.

• the degree to which psychological tools, findings, and studies truly support their findings.

Accuracy is

• how closely a measurement is to the real value of what is being measured.

• how closely a measurement is to the true value of what is being measured.

Which of the following is a similarity between external validity and reproducibility?

• They both concern whether a test or study will produce the same results when conducted again in another setting.

• They both concern whether a test or study will produce the same results when conducted again in the same setting.

Which of the following is a similarity between internal and external validity?

• They can both be increased with a more representative sample.

• They both concern whether results can be extended to the wider population.