Meta-analyses are reported to improve external validity.

Meta-analyses are reported to improve external validity.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not necessarily
• D. Only when including unpublished data

Answer: (A)

External validity is about whether study findings apply to people and settings beyond the exact sample studied. A meta-analysis combines results from many studies, often spanning different populations and real-world contexts. This breadth means the overall estimate reflects a wider range of circumstances than any single study, making the findings more generalizable. When the included studies show diverse participants, settings, or interventions, the synthesized result tends to apply to a broader group and real-world situations. Researchers can also explore whether effects differ across subgroups, which helps clarify applicability to various populations. Of course, this relies on having a diverse, high-quality evidence base and on addressing biases like publication bias; without that, generalizability may not improve.

External validity is about whether study findings apply to people and settings beyond the exact sample studied. A meta-analysis combines results from many studies, often spanning different populations and real-world contexts. This breadth means the overall estimate reflects a wider range of circumstances than any single study, making the findings more generalizable. When the included studies show diverse participants, settings, or interventions, the synthesized result tends to apply to a broader group and real-world situations. Researchers can also explore whether effects differ across subgroups, which helps clarify applicability to various populations. Of course, this relies on having a diverse, high-quality evidence base and on addressing biases like publication bias; without that, generalizability may not improve.