What is a characteristic of good survey designs in terms of external validity?

What is a characteristic of good survey designs in terms of external validity?

• A. They tend to have high external validity
• B. They usually have low reliability
• C. They primarily focus on internal consistency
• D. They often lack representative samples

Answer: (A)

High external validity is a crucial characteristic of good survey designs because it indicates that the findings from the survey can be generalized to a broader population outside of the study sample. This means that the results can be applied to different contexts, settings, or groups, which is essential in research, particularly in fields like psychology where the goal is often to understand broader human behavior and experiences. Good survey designs often incorporate representative samples that reflect the diversity of the population being studied. This ensures that various demographic variables, such as age, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic status, are adequately represented. When a survey includes such diversity, it enhances the likelihood that the findings will be relevant and applicable to larger groups. In contrast, factors such as low reliability, a focus on internal consistency alone, and a lack of representative samples would negatively impact external validity. These aspects could limit the generalizability of the survey's findings, making it difficult to draw conclusions about the wider population based on the results. Therefore, the correct answer emphasizes the importance of high external validity in good survey designs.

High external validity is a crucial characteristic of good survey designs because it indicates that the findings from the survey can be generalized to a broader population outside of the study sample. This means that the results can be applied to different contexts, settings, or groups, which is essential in research, particularly in fields like psychology where the goal is often to understand broader human behavior and experiences.

Good survey designs often incorporate representative samples that reflect the diversity of the population being studied. This ensures that various demographic variables, such as age, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic status, are adequately represented. When a survey includes such diversity, it enhances the likelihood that the findings will be relevant and applicable to larger groups.

In contrast, factors such as low reliability, a focus on internal consistency alone, and a lack of representative samples would negatively impact external validity. These aspects could limit the generalizability of the survey's findings, making it difficult to draw conclusions about the wider population based on the results. Therefore, the correct answer emphasizes the importance of high external validity in good survey designs.