A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What is internal validity concerned with in a study?

1. The generalizability of the findings

2. The clarity of instructions provided to participants

3. The degree to which evidence supports a claim about cause and effect

4. The consistency of the data collected over time

The correct answer is: The degree to which evidence supports a claim about cause and effect

Internal validity refers to the extent to which a study can confidently establish a causal relationship between variables. When a researcher assesses internal validity, they are primarily concerned with whether the observed effects can be attributed to the experimental manipulation rather than other factors such as confounding variables or biases. A high degree of internal validity means that the study effectively rules out alternative explanations, leading to stronger conclusions about cause and effect. When a study has high internal validity, it suggests that the changes in the dependent variable are due to the manipulation of the independent variable and not influenced by extraneous factors. This aspect is crucial in experimental research where the purpose is to determine the effectiveness of an intervention or treatment. In contrast, the other options relate to different aspects of research quality. Generalizability, for instance, pertains to external validity and how findings apply outside the specific experimental conditions. The clarity of instructions addresses the methodological aspects that ensure participants comprehend tasks, impacting reliability but not directly related to establishing causality. Consistency of data over time involves reliability, which ensures that measurements are stable rather than affecting the causal relationship validated through internal validity.