Experimental validity (validity of an experiment) – is a measure that assesses the soundness and correctness of how an experiment is conducted, as well as the justification of the conclusions drawn from its results.
In experimental psychology, several types of experimental validity are distinguished:
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Internal validity (internal validity): This form of validity assesses the extent to which the results of an experiment can truly be attributed to the effect of the independent variable rather than to any other factors. Internal validity implies that the experiment controls for the influence of external variables and isolates the effect under study.
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External validity (external validity): This type of validity assesses the extent to which the results of an experiment can be generalized to a broader population or to other contexts. External validity determines how well experimental results reflect real-life situations or conditions.
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Operational validity (operational validity): This aspect assesses how effectively the variables used in the experiment are defined and measured. Operational validity is related to the appropriateness of the chosen measurement methods and the operationalization of concepts.
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Construct validity (construct validity): This type of validity assesses how accurately and adequately the experimental variables and procedures reflect and measure the specific psychological construct or concept that the researcher is trying to study.
The level of experimental validity depends on how carefully the researcher designs and conducts the experiment, as well as on how well potential biases and external factors are controlled.
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