Why is ecological validity important?
For the ecological validity of a cue in perception, see ecological validity (perception). Ecological validity is a form of validity in a research study. For a research study to possess ecological validity, the methods, materials and setting of the study must approximate the real-life situation that is under investigation.[1] Unlike internal and external validity, ecological validity is not necessary to the overall validity of a study.[2] [edit] External vs. ecological validity Ecological validity is often confused with external validity (which deals with the ability of a study’s results to generalize). While these forms of validity are closely related, they are independent–a study may possess external validity but not ecological validity, and vice-versa .[1][2] For example, mock-jury research is designed to study how people might act if they were jurors during a trial, but many mock-jury studies simply provide written transcripts or summaries of trials, and do so in classroom or offic
