External Validity

Like internal validity, there can also be threats to external validity, & this can be an explanation of how researchers may be wrong in making a generalisation. For instance, researchers may conclude that the results of their study (which was done in a specific place, with certain types of people, & at a specific time) could be generalised to another context. For instance it could have been at another place, with different people, at a later time, even if these factors are only slightly different. There are three major threats to external validity, & this is because there are three ways researchers could be wrong. These are:
- The people,
- The places or
- The times.
It will be at this point that the critics of the research, or person conducting the research could present themselves. The critics may highlight & argue that the results of the study are due to the unusual type of participants who were in the study. Or, they could dispute that it might
This can be done by using a random selection, where possible, opposed to a non-random. Once selected, researchers should try to reassure that the participants responding in the research study & that the amount of people then dropping out of the research is kept to a low rate. Another approach could be to use the theory of proximal similarity more effectively. To do this researchers describe more thoroughly the ways their contexts & others differ. By providing a lot of & in depth data about the extent of similarity between the various groups of people, places, & possibly even times. Researchers may even be able to map out the degree of proximal similarity among various contexts with a methodology such as concept mapping. Showing critics the generalisations & results may be the best approach to show them that they are