Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

A study is considered ______________ when it can produce unbiased conclusions about a target population.

1. Externally valid.

2. Internally valid.

3. Reliable.

4. Scientific.

The correct answer is: Externally valid.

The term associated with a study's ability to produce unbiased conclusions about a target population is external validity. External validity refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to, or have relevance for settings, people, times, and measures other than the ones used in the study. When a study has high external validity, it indicates that its findings can be applied to wider populations beyond the specific sample or context observed, thus ensuring that conclusions drawn are applicable on a larger scale. This concept is crucial in research as it allows for findings to influence broader practices, policies, and understandings in healthcare and other fields. For instance, if a clinical trial demonstrates that a medication is effective in a specific group of patients, its findings would be more impactful if it is determined that other patient demographics would likely respond similarly, thanks to strong external validity. In contrast to this, internal validity focuses on the accuracy of the conclusions drawn from the study regarding the specific group being observed. Reliability pertains to the consistency of a measure or study, and the term scientific encompasses a broader set of characteristics that apply to research methodology but does not specifically address the bias in conclusions about a target population.