Research Methods and Threats to Validity

Research methods:

Research	Descriptive Research	Correlational Research	Experimental Research
Objectives:	To summarize the current situation of the subject of study.	To study the relationships among variables under study.	To study the influence of the independent variable(s) on the dependent variable.
Advantages:	·      Fully summarizes the current data. ·      Helps in developing ideas for further research.	·      Helps in testing whether the predicted relation between variables is valid or not. ·      Helps in testing relationships of interdependent real-life events.	·     Helps in determining relationship between an independent variable and dependent variable.
Disadvantages:	·      Relationships among the variables cannot be determined. ·      Violates ethical issues when the population is observed without informing.	·      We cannot draw conclusions about the set of independent and dependent variables i.e. when one variable causes other.	·     Handling many variables is difficult. ·     It is not cost-effective as well as time-effective.

Threat to research validity:

Threat to Validity	Explanation	How it affects accuracy?
Construct Validity	It deals with how well the values used in research evaluate the conceptual variables- the basic ideas behind the research.	It may not necessarily evaluate or represent the original conceptual variables.
Statistical Conclusion Validity	It deals with the level of accuracy of the researcher’s confidence about the absence of random error in data.	Statistical tests may not have been applied to check the validity of results or the results of the tests may be misinterpreted.
Internal Validity	It deals with how confidently the relationship between the independent and the dependent variables can be trusted.	A third variable, confounding variable, may have affected the participants’ response.
External Validity	It deals with how well the results of a research can be applied to a similar scenario.	The conclusion may have been made under circumstances that are not applicable to another.