Why do studies conducted in theory-testing mode de-emphasize ecological validity?
A)Ecological validity is never important.
B)Internal validity is the highest priority for theory testing.
C)Testing a theory never requires realism.
D)Theories do not need to explain the behavior of everyone.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Theory-testing studies prioritize internal validity because they aim to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables. Thus, they often involve controlling extraneous variables, which may decrease ecological validity. However, this does not mean that ecological validity is never important, as it is crucial for understanding how theories apply to real-world situations. Nonetheless, theory-testing studies may sacrifice it to achieve their primary goal. Theories also do not have to explain the behavior of everyone, but rather provide an explanation for a specific phenomenon or a subset of the population.

Why Do Studies Conducted in Theory-Testing Mode De-Emphasize Ecological Validity