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GATE 2023 XH5 (Psychology) – Question 52

Research Methods and Statistics · Approaches to Research: Philosophical worldviews, quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods designs · 2 marks · Multiple choice

Which one of the following would resolve the basic dilemma of the social psychologist?

  1. Conducting carefully designed experiments with high internal validity
  2. By replicating experiments and conducting some new experiments that have internal validity and others that have external validity
  3. Conducting research exclusively in the field
  4. Conducting applied rather than basic research

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Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (B) By replicating experiments and conducting some new experiments that have internal validity and others that have external validity

Explanation

The dilemma is that experiments with high internal validity may lack external validity, and the reverse. It is resolved by replication and by a mix of studies, some strong on internal validity and others on external validity.