Threats to validity - Essay Example

Threats to validity Validity refers to the extent to which a research is accurate in drawing observations and conclusions over the researcher’s interest. Validity can be internal or external. While internal validity defines the researcher’s efficiency in conducting the research process within the selected group or sample, external validity refers to the degree to which the findings can be inferred to other settings such as a wider population or similar settings. An example of threat to validity is the “historical effect” confounds that affects an experiment conducted over duration of time (Jackson, 2011, p. 231). Owing to the involved period, participants to an experiment may adjust to the experimental environment and realign physically, psychologically, or emotionally due to maturation in the set environment or towards expectations (Jackson, 2011).

A hypothetical case to history, as a threat to validity, involves an experiment, carried over a ‘six-month’ period, to test effectiveness of a depression therapy. While the participants’ stay in the experimental environment over time, and not the particular therapy may have psychological and emotional impacts to reduce the participants’ depression level, the researcher may be misled to believe that the therapy is effective in managing the level of depression (Jackson, 2011). These types of threats to validity are very difficult to recognize and control.

This is because they are majorly psychologically subconscious factors in participants that are not evident to both a researcher and a participant. They can however be controlled through precautionary measures such as application of an “equivalent control group” to eliminate the effects on validity (Jackson, 2011, p. 236).Historical effect is therefore an example of validity threats that are not easily identifiable but can be controlled. ReferenceJackson, S. (2011). Research Methods and Statistics: A Critical Thinking Approach.

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