KNR 497 Foundations Slide 1 Introduction to research methods 3: Validity types 1

KNR 497 Foundations Slide 2 Foundations of research  Validity  the best available approximation to the truth* of a given proposition, inference, or conclusion (*allows for criticism –this is where we come in)  What you wish to say within a study (& therefore the kinds of validity you are going to claim) depends on the type of study you are conducting 1

KNR 497 Foundations Slide 3 Foundations of research 1 2 3

KNR 497 Foundations Slide 4 Foundations of research  Validity Operationalization

KNR 497 Foundations Slide 5 Foundations of research  Validity  For each validity type there are typical threats, and ways to reduce them (we deal with these in later weeks)  This gives us a framework within which to critique the overall validity of our (or any other) study 1

1 KNR 497 Foundations Slide 6 Foundations of research  Ethics  Protect participants vs. Deprive others of knowledge  A tricky balance  One problem is that we are notoriously untrustworthy as a species (see Milgram, Tuskagee, Stanford prison experiments on web), suggesting the need for strong ethical procedures  Another is that strong ethical procedures can deprive individuals of free will

1 KNR 497 Foundations Slide 7 Foundations of research  Ethics  Institutional Review Boards  Informed Consent  these are the ways we currently constrain our practices to keep them “ethical”

 Conceptualizing research  How do you get started/develop and idea/formulate a research plan/conceptualize and area of research?  All this is really for those who wish to conduct research  For now, I’d rather focus on a framework for understanding and critiquing the research that already exists – we’ll get to the doing stage if time allows (for now, assume that the tried and tested method of asking a faculty member for a question is the best method) KNR 497 Foundations Slide 8 Foundations of research