What does external validity refer to?

External validity refers to the extent to which the findings of a study can be generalized beyond the specific conditions or participants involved in that research. This concept is crucial in psychology and other fields, as researchers often aim to apply their findings to broader populations or different contexts. In this case, option B highlights the importance of generalizability, which is fundamental to understanding the real-world implications of research findings.

When a study demonstrates high external validity, it suggests that the results are not only applicable to the sample studied but can also be relevant to other groups, settings, or times. This ability to generalize is what makes research more valuable, as it allows for theories and conclusions to be extended to wider contexts.

Considering other options, they focus on different aspects of research quality. For instance, the reliability of results across different time periods pertains to temporal stability, while accuracy of a study's internal measures relates more to internal validity. Potential bias in research methods points to threats to the validity and reliability of the results, but it does not specifically address the concept of generalizability that external validity encapsulates.