Threats to

Internal
Validity
The Maturation Threat
The Maturation Threat
● Maturation is a threat that occurs to the individual themself, this usually occurs
when the experiment is done over a period of time.
● There is short-term and long-term maturation that can occur.
○ Short -term effects: changes in mood(from a good mood to a bad mood), tiredness, boredom,
hunger or inability to focus

○ Long- term effects: aging, further education, improved/worsened living situation,

improved/worsened physical abilities

● Observed changes in a study are often hard to distinguish between, treatment

or if it is maturation.
Study 1: Sex Differences in Heart Rate
Overview:

This study aimed to examine the differences the autonomic nervous system in young
men and women to try and better understand sudden cardiac death(SCD). The
participants are elite cross country between the ages of 18 to 35 years old, they
were examined over a year period during their training period. The subjects
self-administered measurements of heart rate variability (HRV) first thing after
waking up to track their heart rate. Maximal oxygen uptake,body weight, and height
were taken from their yearly physical results.
Study 1: Sex Differences in Heart Rate
Study Conclusion:

The study concluded that the data revealed that sympathetic tone in men proved to
be higher compared to that of the women. This higher sympathetic tone is what puts
the male athletes at a higher risk for SCD than the female athletes. As for resting
heart rate there was no significant difference.
Study 1: Sex Differences in Heart Rate
Maturation Threats:

Some different maturation threats that affected the overall study included;

1. Unexpected injuries that prevented the athletes from continuing training.

2. Unexpected sickness that halted training for a period of time
3. The menstrual cycle in the female athletes reduced the effects of individual
cofounders on HRV
Study 2: Multimorbidity and weight loss in
obese primary care patients
Overview:

In this study they examined the electronic health records over a year to observe the
cardiovascular and mental comorbidities of obesity and weight loss. They examined
the patient's weight loss from 2010 to 2011. This was based on those whose weights
were considered overweight to morbidly obese. This information was based on sex,
age, comorbidities, weight, and height.
Study 2: Multimorbidity and weight loss in
obese primary care patients
Conclusion:

Weight loss was found to be more common among those who had diabetes and/or
dementia rather than those with hypertension, anxiety, and/or substance abuse
problems. It was also found to be higher in older males. Patients diagnosed with
diabetes in 2010 were more likely to try and lose weight than those of had found out
prior to 2010.
Study 2: Multimorbidity and weight loss in
obese primary care patients
Maturation Threats:

Some different maturation threats that affected the overall study included;

1. The primary care facilities do not keep up with the electronic health records
entries.
2. The patients stop going to that specific primary care facility for multiple
reasons.
Resources
Calderón-Larrañaga, A., Hernández-Olivan, P., González-Rubio, F., Gimeno-Feliu, L., Poblador-Plou, B., &
Prados-Torres, A. (2015). Multimorbidity and weight loss in obese primary care patients: Longitudinal
study based on electronic healthcare records. BMJ Open, 5(3), E006227.

“Internal Validity: Lærd Dissertation.” Internal Validity | Lærd Dissertation,

dissertation.laerd.com/internal-validity-p3.php.

Schäfer, D., Gjerdalen, G.F., Solberg, E.E. et al. Sex differences in heart rate variability: a longitudinal study in
international elite cross-country skiers. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 2107–2114 (2015).
https://doi-org.summit.csuci.edu/10.1007/s00421-015-3190-0