affected the validity of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "affected the validity of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing how something has influenced or changed the legitimacy or soundness of a particular argument, claim, or document. Example: "The new evidence presented in court significantly affected the validity of the defendant's alibi."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

The extent to which financial interests of the experts affected the validity of the study must be investigated.

The New York Times

"Do you think that at all affected the validity of your scientific experiment?" Mr. Jason said he was afraid of bumping into the setup: "I thought, 'I'm just going to kick the table and knock this thing down and ruin the day.' " Mr. Jason charged the defendants $250 an hour and worked more than 200 hours, he said.

The New York Times

Third, many studies relied on one source to measure technological and engagement variables (single source bias), such as self-report data (i.e., reported usage of technology and perceptions of student engagement), which may have affected the validity of the results.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

In a letter dated 3 August 1999, NCI says that "the rationale for this decision is that the misconduct that occurred affected the validity of the entire grant project".

Science Magazine

It is likely that this would have affected the validity of the diagnoses.

BMC Psychiatry

This may have resulted in responder bias and may have affected the validity of the ECQ.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

A poor translation process and/or lack of cross-cultural validation seem to primarily affect the validity of the questionnaire.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

The death of Mr. Sherman, therefore, does not affect the validity of the election of electors.

The New York Times

This is necessary to ensure none of the photographs stand out from the others as this could affect the validity of a positive identification.

The Guardian

"I believe we stopped flagging those results based on research in the 1980's suggesting that accommodations that did not involve extended time did not affect the validity of the scores," Mr. vonMayrhauser said.

The New York Times

Similarly, while the complainant had later spoken to another newspaper, this did not affect the validity of the request – to the contrary, it bore out her husband's prediction that she would not comment until after the verdict.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "affected the validity of", clearly specify what factor influenced the validity and provide context to explain the impact. For example, "The small sample size affected the validity of the study's conclusions."

Common error

Avoid using "affected the validity of" without specifying what aspect of the validity was impacted. Instead of saying, "The method affected the validity", be specific: "The biased sampling method affected the external validity of the survey results."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "affected the validity of" functions as a verb phrase that describes how a particular factor has influenced the legitimacy or soundness of something. It is commonly used to discuss how methodological issues, biases, or external factors can influence the strength and reliability of research findings or arguments, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "affected the validity of" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe how a factor has influenced the legitimacy or soundness of something, as validated by Ludwig. Primarily found in scientific and journalistic contexts, this phrase serves to express a concern or acknowledgment that something may have weakened the credibility of a result. While alternatives like "impacted the validity of" or "influenced the validity of" exist, it's crucial to use the phrase with specificity, clearly stating what factor influenced the validity and providing sufficient context to explain its impact. Avoiding vague statements ensures clarity and strengthens the overall argument.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impacted the validity of

Replaces "affected" with "impacted", emphasizing a strong influence.

influenced the validity of

Substitutes "affected" with "influenced", suggesting a less forceful impact.

altered the validity of

Uses "altered" instead of "affected", highlighting a change in validity.

compromised the validity of

Emphasizes that validity has been weakened or put at risk.

undermined the validity of

Implies a gradual weakening of validity.

called into question the validity of

Highlights the act of doubting or challenging the validity.

cast doubt on the validity of

Suggests a questioning of the validity without necessarily disproving it.

weakened the validity of

Directly states that validity has been made less strong.

diminished the validity of

Indicates a reduction in the level of validity.

reduced the reliability of

Shifts focus from validity to the related concept of reliability.

FAQs

What does "affected the validity of" mean?

It means that something has had an influence on how sound, legitimate, or believable something else is. This usually refers to research findings, data, or arguments.

How can I use "affected the validity of" in a sentence?

Use it to explain how a particular factor or event has potentially weakened or altered the strength and credibility of a result, conclusion, or measurement. For example, "The lack of a control group "affected the validity of" the study's results."

What are some alternatives to "affected the validity of"?

You can use alternatives like "impacted the validity of", "influenced the validity of", or "compromised the validity of" depending on the specific context and the degree of impact.

Is it better to say "affected the validity of" or "impacted the validity of"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "impacted the validity of" might suggest a stronger or more noticeable effect. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey in your writing.