Which type of validity focuses on whether a study's findings are accurate or influenced by extraneous variables?

Which type of validity focuses on whether a study's findings are accurate or influenced by extraneous variables?

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

Answer: (A)

Internal validity is about whether the study’s observed effects truly reflect the intended cause-and-effect relationship, or whether extraneous variables are biasing the results. When extraneous factors influence outcomes, you can’t confidently attribute changes in the dependent variable to the manipulation of the independent variable. Strengthening internal validity means designing the study to control or randomize away those other influences, using a proper control group, consistent procedures, reliable measurements, and, when possible, blinding. This protects conclusions from confounds such as selection differences, maturation, history, instrumentation changes, testing effects, or attrition. External validity, by contrast, concerns whether the findings would generalize beyond this specific study, to other settings or populations, not the accuracy of the causal claim within the study. Historical validity isn’t a standard term in this context, and population validity relates to generalizability rather than internal accuracy. So the focus on accuracy and control of extraneous influences points to internal validity.

Internal validity is about whether the study’s observed effects truly reflect the intended cause-and-effect relationship, or whether extraneous variables are biasing the results. When extraneous factors influence outcomes, you can’t confidently attribute changes in the dependent variable to the manipulation of the independent variable. Strengthening internal validity means designing the study to control or randomize away those other influences, using a proper control group, consistent procedures, reliable measurements, and, when possible, blinding. This protects conclusions from confounds such as selection differences, maturation, history, instrumentation changes, testing effects, or attrition. External validity, by contrast, concerns whether the findings would generalize beyond this specific study, to other settings or populations, not the accuracy of the causal claim within the study. Historical validity isn’t a standard term in this context, and population validity relates to generalizability rather than internal accuracy. So the focus on accuracy and control of extraneous influences points to internal validity.