What does external validity refer to?

External validity refers to the degree to which the findings of a study can be generalized or applied beyond the specific group that was tested. This concept is crucial in research as it determines whether the results observed in a sample can be expected to hold true in a broader context, such as different populations, settings, or times. When a study has high external validity, researchers can confidently apply insights gleaned from their study to the general population or to other specific groups.

In practice, achieving high external validity often involves selecting a representative sample and ensuring that the conditions of the study reflect the real-world scenarios to which the results will be extended. This incorporates diversity in the demographics of participants and considers varying external factors that could influence outcomes.

In contrast, the other options primarily deal with internal aspects of the study itself, such as the accuracy of results within the study group or how biases and confounding variables are managed. While these factors are essential for establishing the study's internal validity, they do not address the broader applicability of the findings, which is the heart of external validity.