Why is the ecological validity considered low in the study context?

Why is the ecological validity considered low in the study context?

• A. Participants were highly motivated
• B. The study was conducted in a lab setting
• C. Participants had prior knowledge of the study
• D. The tasks were engaging

Answer: (B)

The ecological validity of a study refers to the extent to which research findings can be generalized to real-world settings. In this case, the study's low ecological validity is attributed to the fact that it was conducted in a lab setting. Laboratory environments are often controlled and artificial, which can lead participants to behave differently than they would in their natural environments. This can create a gap between the conditions of the study and real-life scenarios, thus limiting the applicability of the findings outside the lab. In contrast, factors such as participant motivation, prior knowledge of the study, or the engagement level of tasks tend to contribute positively to the internal validity of a study or may enhance certain aspects of participant responses. However, these factors do not necessarily address the real-world applicability of the findings, which is primarily influenced by the setting in which the research was conducted.

The ecological validity of a study refers to the extent to which research findings can be generalized to real-world settings. In this case, the study's low ecological validity is attributed to the fact that it was conducted in a lab setting. Laboratory environments are often controlled and artificial, which can lead participants to behave differently than they would in their natural environments. This can create a gap between the conditions of the study and real-life scenarios, thus limiting the applicability of the findings outside the lab.

In contrast, factors such as participant motivation, prior knowledge of the study, or the engagement level of tasks tend to contribute positively to the internal validity of a study or may enhance certain aspects of participant responses. However, these factors do not necessarily address the real-world applicability of the findings, which is primarily influenced by the setting in which the research was conducted.