A researcher conducts a study in which participants are asked to administer electric shocks to a participant in what they believe to be a memory experiment, but which in fact is a study of obedience.In fact the shocks are not real, but the participant does not know this.However, some of the participants see through the cover story.Which of the following is true?
A)The fact that participants see through the cover story affects the study's internal validity.
B)The fact that participants see through the cover story affects the study's external validity.
C)The fact that participants see through the cover story affects the study's general validity.
D)Both (a)and (b).
E)All of the above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that participants see through the cover story affects the study's internal validity because it means that the results of the study may not be due to the independent variable (the electric shocks) but rather to the fact that the participants knew that the shocks were not real. The fact that participants see through the cover story also affects the study's external validity because it means that the results of the study may not be generalizable to other populations who do not know that the shocks are not real.

A Researcher Conducts a Study in Which Participants Are Asked