What is meant by external validity in research?

External validity refers to the degree to which the findings of a research study can be generalized beyond the specific conditions or participants involved in the study. It emphasizes the applicability of the results to other settings, populations, or times. When researchers conduct studies, they ideally want the outcomes to have implications that extend beyond the immediate sample and context, suggesting that similar effects would occur in different situations or with different groups.

This concept is crucial for understanding how research contributes to broader knowledge. If a study demonstrates that a particular communication strategy is effective within a specific sample, external validity allows researchers to infer that the strategy might also work in similar populations or contexts outside that initial sample.

The other options reflect different aspects of research methodology. Measurement accuracy pertains to internal validity, focusing on how well the study measures what it intends to. The clarity of research hypotheses relates to the precision and measurable outcome expected from a study but does not pertain to generalizability. Internal consistency involves how reliably the study’s measures perform within themselves, rather than their external applicability. Thus, understanding external validity is key to drawing broader conclusions from specific research findings.