Which concept is indicated when results from a lab do not generalize well to real-world settings?

The concept indicated when results from a lab do not generalize well to real-world settings is external validity. External validity refers to the extent to which the findings of a study can be generalized to, or have relevance for settings, people, times, and measures other than the ones used in the study. When a study is conducted in a controlled laboratory environment, the conditions can be very different from those in the real world, leading to potential limitations in how well the results apply outside of that controlled setting.

In research, maintaining a high level of external validity is crucial when the goal is to apply findings to broader populations or different contexts. A study that lacks external validity may showcase strong internal results, but if those results cannot translate to real-life situations, their practical value is diminished. Understanding external validity helps researchers and practitioners in social work to assess how applicable research findings are to the populations they serve.