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Academic English & Research vocabulary · Research Design

Generalizability

Meaning in academic english & research, with examples

nounCommon term

In academic english & research, generalizability means: The extent to which the findings of a study can be applied to other people, places or situations beyond the sample studied.

In Turkish: genellenebilirlik, dış geçerlik

How it is used

Small or non-random samples limit generalizability, so the word often appears in limitations sections. It is closely related to external validity. Qualitative researchers usually prefer the term transferability. British spelling: generalisability.

Example sentences

  1. The generalizability of the findings is limited by the single-site design.

  2. Future studies with larger samples could improve generalizability.

Common collocations

  • limit the generalizability
  • generalizability of the findings
  • external validity
  • improve generalizability
  • validityThe extent to which a study or instrument really measures what it claims to measure and supports the conclusions drawn from it.
  • sampleThe smaller group of people, items or texts selected from a larger population for a study, so that conclusions can be drawn about that population.
  • limitationA weakness or restriction in a study's design, sample or methods that affects how far its findings can be generalized or trusted.
  • populationThe whole group of people, cases or items that a study is about and from which a smaller sample is usually drawn.

More terms: Research Design

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