Exteal validity意思

"External validity" is a term used in research, particularly in the social and behavioral sciences, to refer to the generalizability or applicability of study findings to the larger population or real-world settings. It is one of the key criteria for evaluating the quality and usefulness of research.

In other words, external validity concerns whether the results of a study can be extended beyond the specific sample, conditions, and context in which the study was conducted. For example, if a study finds that a particular educational program improves test scores for students in one school district, external validity would be concerned with whether those results would also hold true for students in other districts, or for different types of students (e.g., different socioeconomic backgrounds, different age groups), or under different conditions (e.g., different teaching methods, different cultural contexts).

External validity is often contrasted with internal validity, which refers to the degree to which a study is free from bias and can support causal conclusions within its own sample and context. While internal validity is important for establishing that a study's findings are accurate and trustworthy, external validity is crucial for determining whether those findings have broader implications and can be applied to other situations or populations.