Please discuss internal and external factors and explain how they impact validity.PLEASE REPLY TO MY CLASSMATE RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU AGREE? (A MINIMUM OF 125 WORDS or MORE) CLASSMATES POST
Internal factors refer to the validity of the findings within the research study. It is primarily concerned with controlling the extraneous variables and outside influences that may impact the outcome. This is especially important in experimental studies to ensure that the experimental treatment (X) is, in fact, responsible for a change in the dependent variable (Y). This is critical if the study is going to be able to determine a causal relationship.
Therefore, the researcher must plan to control or eliminate the influence of other variables in order to be confident when making conclusions about the relationship between X and Y, (Hagan, 2014). External factors refer to rival causal factors that negatively affect external validity. External validity is concerned with determining whether the research study findings, which are based on a sample, can be generalized to the larger population, (Hagan, 2014). There also threats to external validity such as: reactivity or awareness of being studied, testing effects, selection bias, and multiple-threat interference (Hagan, 2014, p. 71).
Reference:Hagan, F. E. (2014). Research methods in criminal justice and criminology (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.