What does internal validity indicate in research?

Internal validity refers to the extent to which a research study can demonstrate a causal relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable, without the influence of confounding factors. When internal validity is high, it indicates that the changes observed in the dependent variable can be confidently attributed to the manipulations of the independent variable, rather than external influences or biases.

In research, establishing causality is crucial, as it allows researchers to make definitive conclusions about how specific factors affect outcomes. This is particularly important in experimental designs where treatments or interventions are applied. High internal validity ensures that the results reflect the true effects of the treatments under investigation, making the findings reliable for understanding causation.

The other concepts presented do not address the core idea of internal validity. They focus on different aspects of research quality, such as generalizability or the consistency of survey instruments, which are not the main concern of internal validity.