Which type of validity emphasizes the generalizability of study results to a larger population?

The type of validity that emphasizes the generalizability of study results to a larger population is external validity. This concept is crucial in research as it determines whether the findings of a study can be applied beyond the specific sample that was studied. External validity allows researchers to understand if the results they found in a controlled environment or with a particular group of participants can be expected to hold true in different settings, with different populations, or at different times.

In contrast, internal validity focuses on the accuracy of the causal relationships within the study itself, ensuring that the results are due to the variables being tested rather than confounding factors. Construct validity relates to how well a test or tool measures the theoretical concept it is intended to measure, while face validity pertains to the subjective judgment of whether a study seems to measure what it claims to measure based on the appearance of the research design. Each of these types of validity plays a different role in research quality, but external validity specifically addresses how widely we can apply findings from a study to the broader population.