Which type of validity asks whether the sample can be extrapolated to the population as a whole?

Which type of validity asks whether the sample can be extrapolated to the population as a whole?

• A. Population validity
• B. External validity
• C. Internal validity
• D. Criterion validity

Answer: (A)

Generalizability hinges on how well the sample mirrors the population of interest. This idea is captured by population validity, which asks whether findings from the sample can be extrapolated to the whole population. The stronger the sample represents the population in key characteristics (demographics, severity, comorbidity, etc.) and the more unbiased the selection method, the higher the population validity. External validity is the broader umbrella of generalizability to other settings, times, and populations, but the specific concern of applying results to the population as a whole—based on the sample’s representativeness—fits population validity. Internal validity is about causal conclusions within the study, and criterion validity concerns how well a measure aligns with a gold standard. For extrapolating to the population, population validity is the most precise concept.

Generalizability hinges on how well the sample mirrors the population of interest. This idea is captured by population validity, which asks whether findings from the sample can be extrapolated to the whole population. The stronger the sample represents the population in key characteristics (demographics, severity, comorbidity, etc.) and the more unbiased the selection method, the higher the population validity.

External validity is the broader umbrella of generalizability to other settings, times, and populations, but the specific concern of applying results to the population as a whole—based on the sample’s representativeness—fits population validity. Internal validity is about causal conclusions within the study, and criterion validity concerns how well a measure aligns with a gold standard. For extrapolating to the population, population validity is the most precise concept.