Books and Resources Week 7 PSY 7110
Research and Evaluation in Education and Psychology
External Learning Tool
Mertens, D. M. (2015). Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods (4th ed.). Los Angeles, CA; Sage Publications.
Read Chapter 4, pages 126-137 (validity), and pages 382-385 (reliability)
Week 7 – Assignment: Critique a Study using Concepts of Reliability, Internal, and External Validity
Instructions
Select any study from the NCU dissertation database that used inferential statistics such as t-test, correlation, regression, ANOVA, or chi-square to test a hypothesis. Then, outline the purpose of the study and how the study was implemented by describing the procedure. For NCU dissertations, Chapter 3 contains the information about how the study was completed.
Using your knowledge of reliability, internal, and external validity, comment on the quality of the study. Specifically, focus on the following in your brief assessment:
If tests of reliability and validity were used, explain how well they were implemented. If no tests were used, indicate if they should have been and why.
Comment on the sampling and recruitment techniques. Determine if there were possibilities for biased samples.
If questionnaires/instruments were used, explain whether they were effective. Identify and interpret any evidence that the instruments had been through any process of validity and reliability testing, if applicable.
Illustrate the extent to which the findings from the study are generalizable/externally valid.
Comment on the overall logic of the research design. Interpret whether the study was internally valid.
Support your assignment as needed with scholarly resources. Appropriate scholarly resources, including seminal articles, may be included but are not required.
Length: 2-3 pages, not including title and reference pages
Your assignment should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the course by providing new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards.