Question

: Dr. Oswald conducts a study examining the relationship between the number of friends one has and the experience of daily stress and life satisfaction. She randomly samples 1,500 elderly men and women in the Memphis, Tennessee, area in the southern United States. Below are her findings.

< Life satisfaction and experience of daily stress: r = -.57 ( p = .01)
< Number of friends one has and experience of daily stress: r = .09, not sig.
< Number of friends one has and life satisfaction: r = .36 ( p = .04)
In evaluating Dr. Oswald’s study, you question the construct validity of the study. Which of the following questions would you be asking?

Answer 1

Construct validity refers to how well a study accurately measures the constructs it is intended to measure. In evaluating the construct validity of Dr. Oswald's study, one would assess the accuracy and relevance of the measurements for 'number of friends,' 'daily stress,' and 'life satisfaction,' and consider whether these measures reflect these constructs for the elderly population in Memphis.

Step-by-step explanation:

When questioning the construct validity of Dr. Oswald’s study on the relationship between social connections and stress and life satisfaction, one would consider how well the study measures what it is intended to measure. Construct validity refers to the extent to which the instruments used in the research represent the variables of interest and the theoretical concepts underpinning the study. In this case, factors such as how “number of friends” is defined and measured, how “daily stress” and “life satisfaction” are operationalized, and whether these measures accurately reflect the constructs they are supposed to, would all be scrutinized. Furthermore, considering the context and cultural aspects of the elderly population in Memphis, and whether these constructs have the same meaning and significance in this group, would be important as well.

Relevant questions might include: Are the named constructs the actual elements causing the observed effects? Is the way in which ‘friends’ are counted reflective of the social support available to participants? Are stress and satisfaction being measured in a way that accurately represents the experiences of older adults? Additionally, to properly validate the constructs, a comparison with other established measures of social support, daily stress, and life satisfaction might be warranted.