What is measured by external validity?

External validity refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized or applied to settings, populations, or times beyond the specific conditions of the study. It addresses the question of whether the findings can be extrapolated to different groups of people, contexts, or situations, making it essential for determining the relevance of research in real-world applications.

When a study demonstrates high external validity, it suggests that the findings are relevant and meaningful beyond the specific sample or conditions tested, allowing practitioners and policymakers to make informed decisions based on the research.

Other options focus on different aspects of research quality: the first option relates to reliability, the second one deals with potential biases in the study, and the fourth pertains to the research design’s effectiveness. While these are all important for evaluating a study, they do not specifically address how well the findings translate to broader contexts, which is the critical focus of external validity.