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The purpose of experiments: Ecological validity versus comparing hypotheses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

Robyn M. Dawes
Affiliation:
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. rd1b+@andrew.cmu.edu

Abstract

As illustrated by research Koehler himself cites (Dawes et al. 1993), the purpose of experiments is to choose between contrasting explanations of past observations – rather than to seek statistical generalizations about the prevalence of effects. True external validity results not from sampling various problems that are representative of “real world” decision making, but from reproducing an effect in the laboratory with minimal contamination (including from real world factors).

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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