Validity and Reliability (1 Viewer)

bmc

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Messages
61
Location
South of the Border
Gender
Male
HSC
2006
Help! I have a prac test tomorrow and im still confused about what category stuff fits into.

Do controls fit into reliability or accuracy or validity?

do the independant and dependat variables fit into these categories?

and the equipment u use is accuracy isnt it.

Thanks
 
H

housemouse

Guest
Controls most likely fits into validity as it is to do with the correctness of the experiment.
Variables also fit into validity.

Just remember that for an experiment to be valid, it has to answer the aim as well as only had one variable changed and no other. Other variables must be kept constant.

And the equipment used does refer to accuracy.
 

helper

Active Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
1,183
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Controls fit into validity, independent and dependent don't really fit into either. However if what you measure isn't really your independent or independent variable then your experiment won't be valid.

At HSC level you should normally have one independent variable so you can validly check that it is what is causing the change.

Equipment comes into accuracy and reliability, if your equipment is not accurate, then you are not going to come up with a reliable experiment.

Be careful when talking about accuracy as it has two meanings. The accuracy of the experiment that is referring to validity of the result.

The accuracy of individual bits of data and spread of the data, which is refering to reliability.
 
Last edited:
H

housemouse

Guest
Im going to have to disagree with you,all variables fit into validity.

Reliability is just about repeating the experiment and obtaining similiar results each time.
 

helper

Active Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
1,183
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
housemouse said:
Im going to have to disagree with you,all variables fit into validity.

Reliability is just about repeating the experiment and obtaining similiar results each time.
Yep my error there, will go back and fix that.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top