A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

Which criticism of the Raine et al. study relates to its representation of the criminal population?

1. Low construct validity

2. Sample may be unrepresentative

3. High ecological validity

4. Standardised testing procedures

The correct answer is: Sample may be unrepresentative

The criticism that the sample may be unrepresentative is important because it highlights potential limitations in the generalizability of the study's findings. In psychological research, an unrepresentative sample can lead to conclusions that cannot be effectively applied to the broader population – in this case, the criminal population. If the participants selected for Raine et al.'s study do not accurately reflect the characteristics of all criminals, such as demographics, types of crimes committed, or socio-economic background, then the findings about the relationship between brain structure and criminal behavior may not hold true for a wider group. This issue is crucial for understanding the implications of the study's results. If the sample was drawn from a specific subset of criminals, such as those with particular types of offenses or those from a specific geographical area, the conclusions drawn may not be applicable to other criminal populations. By questioning the representativeness of the sample, researchers and critics can safeguard against overgeneralizing results, which is vital for the rigor and credibility of psychological research.