Which factor can affect external validity?

External validity refers to the extent to which study findings can be generalized beyond the specific conditions of the study to other settings, populations, or times. The generalizability of study results to a wider population directly addresses how applicable the research findings are outside the sample used in the study.

When a study demonstrates strong external validity, its results can be confidently applied to a broader context. This might involve considering whether the sample is representative of the larger population, if the setting resembles real-world conditions, and whether the study's timing is relevant for current or future situations.

Factors such as methodological rigor, sample size, and the use of control groups are important for establishing the internal validity of a study—ensuring that the research design effectively isolates and assesses the variables of interest without confounding influences. However, these factors do not inherently ensure that the results can be generalized to other contexts, which is exactly what external validity focuses on. Thus, understanding how findings relate to a larger population is central to appreciating external validity.