A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What was one of the main strengths of Levine et al.'s research?

1. Ethnocentric focus

2. High reliability

3. Low ecological validity

4. Subjective data collection

The correct answer is: High reliability

One of the main strengths of Levine et al.'s research is its high reliability. This characteristic refers to the consistency of the findings across different contexts and populations. High reliability is essential in psychological research because it ensures that the results can be replicated and are not merely due to chance or specific conditions of a single study. In the case of Levine et al., by conducting their research in various cities worldwide, they were able to establish a reliable measure of helping behaviors across diverse cultural backgrounds, which enhances the credibility and generalizability of their findings. This robustness adds significant value to the research, as reliable results contribute to the overall understanding of social behavior in urban environments. In contrast, an ethnocentric focus would limit the applicability of the findings to specific cultures, low ecological validity might raise concerns about how well the study reflects real-world scenarios, and subjective data collection could introduce bias and variability that detracts from the reliability of the research outcomes.