A VCE Psychology student, Sarah, conducts an experiment to investigate the effect of caffeine on reaction time. She hypothesizes that caffeine will decrease reaction time. After conducting the experiment, she finds that participants who consumed caffeine had slower reaction times than those who did not. Which of the following best describes the most significant threat to the internal validity of Sarah’s conclusion that caffeine slows reaction time?
The sample size was too small to detect a statistically significant difference.
Participants were aware of whether they received caffeine or a placebo, potentially influencing their reaction times.
The reaction time task was not standardised, with some participants using a computer mouse and others using a touch screen.
Sarah did not obtain informed consent from all participants before the experiment.
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Create Free Account Log inThis is a free VCE Units 3 & 4 Psychology practice question worth 1 mark, testing your understanding of Criteria of validity. It falls under How is scientific inquiry used to investigate mental processes and psychological functioning? in Unit 4: How is mental wellbeing supported and maintained?. Submit your answer above to receive instant AI-powered marking and personalised feedback.
In this unit students explore the demand for sleep and the influences of sleep on mental wellbeing. They consider how changes to a person’s sleep-wake cycle can affect psychological functioning. Students explore the concept of mental wellbeing, including social and emotional wellbeing as a multidimensional and holistic framework. They apply a biopsychosocial approach to specific phobia, exploring how biological, psychological and social factors are involved in its development and management. A student-designed scientific investigation involving the generation of primary data related to mental processes and mental wellbeing is undertaken in either Unit 3 or Unit 4 or across both Units 3 and 4, and is assessed in Outcome 3 of this unit.
Students undertake a student-designed scientific investigation in either Unit 3 or Unit 4, or across both Units 3 and 4, related to mental processes and mental wellbeing. The investigation involves the generation of primary quantitative data. Students apply key science skills to develop and test a research question, gather and analyse data, and communicate findings in a structured scientific poster. A logbook is maintained for authentication and assessment purposes.
criteria used to evaluate the validity of measurements and psychological research
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