For an association claim, which validities should be interrogated?

For an association claim, it is essential to explore statistical, construct, and external validities.

Statistical validity refers to the extent to which the conclusions drawn from statistical analyses are accurate and reliable. This involves examining whether the data supports the association claimed and ensuring that any statistical relationships are not due to chance.

Construct validity focuses on whether the variables used in the study truly represent the constructs they intend to measure. This entails assessing whether the operational definitions of the variables accurately capture the theoretical concepts involved in the association claim.

External validity pertains to the generalizability of the findings from the study to other populations, settings, or times. It asks whether the results of the study can be applied beyond the specific sample and situation tested in the research.

Interrogating these three validities provides a comprehensive evaluation of the association claim, ensuring that the findings are not only statistically sound but also meaningful in a broader context.