An evaluation requires the explanation of strengths and limitations. Thus, in order to evaluate anything<\/em> we need to first understand its purpose or what it’s trying to do. So before you can evaluate a study in psychology you must first know and understand what the study is trying to do!<\/p>\n Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes. It’s aim, therefore, is to describe, explain and even predict human behaviour and mental processes. So a study (e.g. experiment) in psychology is conducted to demonstrate some factor that influences human behaviour and\/or mental processes that will help our understanding, explanation and\/or prediction.<\/p>\n Quantitative studies in psychology are designed to show the relationship between variables. That is to say, between two factors involved in human behaviour. An evaluation of a psychological study, therefore, should focus on the extent to which the study can really demonstrate the relationship it is trying to demonstrate.<\/p>\n Thus, before you can evaluate a psychological study you must first be able to apply it and explain its conclusions; you must first know what the relationship is that’s being demonstrated in the study before you can determine the strengths and limitations of the study in showing that claim.<\/p>\n So if you’ve come to this page in order to figure out how to evaluate a particular study, make sure you understand<\/strong> <\/em>the study\u00a0first! Once you can do that, then move on to the evaluation.<\/p>\n When evaluating quantitative<\/strong> <\/em>psychological studies (lab experiments, natural experiments, etc.) there are some\u00a0key areas to look at:<\/p>\n When you are writing about psychological studies you will be applying them to a particular problem or question. Your first step will be to explain<\/em> how the study demonstrates a particular point.<\/p>\n Thus, your first step in evaluating<\/em> the research is to think about\u00a0the limitations in your own explanation and application. The concepts of validity and reliability of studies can help you make that evaluation.<\/p>\n However, before you begin throwing around terms like ecological validity and the like, just think for yourself about the own limitations you can see in the explanations.<\/p>\n A studies\u00a0validity\u00a0<\/strong>refers to the extent to which the results can be used to show what the study is trying to demonstrate.<\/p>\n In order to examine a study’s validity, it might be worthwhile thinking about what type of study was conducted. The type of study (experimental, field, natural, etc.) will influence what the study was trying to show and how you critique it’s validity.<\/p>\n I sometimes wonder if I made up this word “ethicality” to describe the extent to which a study is ethical in nature. It appears on dictionary.com, but I know how credible that source really is. Nevertheless, it makes sense (at least in my mind).<\/p>\n Ethical Considerations<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Introduction An evaluation requires the explanation of strengths and limitations. Thus, in order to evaluate anything we need to first understand its purpose or what it’s trying to do. So before you can evaluate a study in psychology you must first know and understand what the study is trying to do! Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental … <\/p>\n\n
Applicability <\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n
Validity\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n
Reliability\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n
Ethicality\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nApplicability<\/h1>\n
\nValidity and Reliability<\/h1>\n
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\nEthicality<\/h1>\n
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