When there is a large amount of control by the researcher, there should be less control and a more natural measurement of the variables of interest. This is referred to as having ______.
A) external validity
B) internal validity
C) content validity
D) construct validity

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

External validity refers to the extent to which findings can be generalized to other settings and populations beyond the one studied. When there is a high degree of control by the researcher, such as in a laboratory experiment, the findings may not be applicable to real-world situations. By having less control and allowing for more natural measurement, the study is more likely to have external validity. Internal validity, on the other hand, refers to the degree to which the study design and procedures minimize the influence of extraneous variables and allow for the assessment of the hypothesized causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Content validity pertains to the extent to which a measure accurately represents the construct it is intended to assess. Construct validity refers to the degree to which a measure actually measures the construct it is intended to assess.

When There Is a Large Amount of Control by the Researcher