The relationship between internal and external validity in research can best be described as
A) If an experiment lacks external validity, it cannot have internal validity.
B) If an experiment lacks internal validity, it cannot have external validity.
C) Internal and external validity are not related at all.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Internal validity refers to the extent to which a study measures what it intends to measure, while external validity refers to the generalizability of study findings to other populations or settings. If a study lacks internal validity, it means that there are flaws in the study design or methods that make it difficult to draw accurate conclusions about cause and effect relationships. This would also compromise the study's external validity, as it would be difficult to apply the findings to other contexts or populations. However, a study with strong internal validity may still have limited external validity if the sample or setting chosen is not representative of other populations or settings in which the findings might be applied.

The Relationship Between Internal and External Validity in Research Can