Am I reading this right?
Internal validity refers to the extent to which a test measures what we actually do; Validity examines whether the conclusion that we draw about a demonstrated experimental relationship truly implies cause; and External validity examines if an observed causal relationship generalizes across persons, settings, and times.
Yes, you are reading it right. The concepts you mentioned are indeed related to validity in research.
Internal validity refers to the degree to which a study or experiment measures what it intends to measure. It assesses whether the changes observed in the dependent variable can be confidently attributed to the independent variable and not other potentially confounding factors. To determine internal validity, researchers often employ techniques such as control groups, randomization, and rigorous experimental design.
Validity, in general, refers to how accurately a test or research study measures what it intends to measure. It evaluates whether the conclusions drawn from a study are reliable and valid. Validity can be further categorized into different types, and one of them is called "conclusion validity" or "causal validity." This type of validity assesses whether the evidence supports a causal claim, determining whether changes in the independent variable cause changes in the dependent variable. Establishing a causal relationship often requires additional considerations, such as control over extraneous variables, random assignment, and statistical analysis.
External validity, as you mentioned, refers to the generalizability or applicability of the findings from a study to the larger population or to different settings, times, and circumstances. It evaluates whether the conclusions drawn from a study can be extended beyond the specific sample or context in which the research was conducted. Researchers often strive for external validity by using diverse samples, selecting representative participants, and conducting experiments in real-world or naturalistic settings.
To summarize: internal validity focuses on the accurate measurement within a specific study, validity examines whether the conclusions imply cause, and external validity investigates the generalizability of the results across different populations, settings, and times.