Question

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

• A. Conducting carefully designed experiments with high internal validity
• B. By replicating experiments and conducting some new experiments that have internal validity and others that have external validity
• C. Conducting research exclusively in the field
• D. Conducting applied rather than basic research

Hint:

Balance the validity tradeoff by triangulation: replicate and mix lab (internal validity) with field (external validity) studies.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The basic dilemma in social psychology is the tradeoff between internal validity (strong causal inference, often in lab) and external validity (generalizability, often in field).
(A) focuses only on internal validity; (C) only on external validity; (D) changes the purpose, not the validity tradeoff.
Best resolution: combine approaches—replicate studies and conduct a program of research including both high-internal-validity lab experiments and high-external-validity field studies. Hence, \fbox{(B)}.