The extent to which conclusions of a research study can be generalized to other populations and settings, validity.
Determines whether the results can be generalized beyond the study population. Internal validity is a prerequisite for external validity. If an association is not validly assessed for the population under investigation, it cannot be generalized to other populations. For external validity, a judgment must be made as to the plausibility that the effect observed in the study population can be generalized.
The ability of the study to generalize its results to relevant populations.