RESEARCH METHODS THINKING CRITICALLY WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
THE NEED FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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ensure that the sample is representative of the population
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use a large sample size
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conduct the study in a real life setting
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do all of the above
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Detailed explanation-1: -External validity can be increased by using broad inclusion criteria that result in a study population that more closely resembles real-life patients, and, in the case of clinical trials, by choosing interventions that are feasible to apply.
Detailed explanation-2: -External validity is the extent to which you can generalize the findings of a study to other situations, people, settings, and measures. In other words, can you apply the findings of your study to a broader context? The aim of scientific research is to produce generalizable knowledge about the real world.
Detailed explanation-3: -How can we improve external validity? One way, based on the sampling model, suggests that you do a good job of drawing a sample from a population. For instance, you should use random selection, if possible, rather than a nonrandom procedure.