Internal validity

Internal validity refers to the degree to which a study accurately demonstrates a cause-and-effect relationship between variables. It assesses whether changes in the independent variable directly lead to changes in the dependent variable, without interference from other factors or biases. High internal validity means that researchers can confidently claim that their findings are due to the experimental treatment rather than external influences. In essence, it ensures that the study's results accurately reflect the true relationship being investigated, making the conclusions drawn from the research trustworthy and reliable.