GENERALIZABILITY

DEFINITION
Generalizability can be defined as the application of research findings based on a sample to the whole
population, it also means that the findings of one study is transferable to another similar situation.
IMPORTANCE OF GENERALIZABILITY
 Generalizability is important because it allows researchers to make inferences for a large group
of people, i.e., the target population, by only studying a part of it (the sample).
 Generalizability is one of the three criteria (along with validity and reliability) that researchers
use to assess the quality of both quantitative and qualitative research.
 However, depending on the type of research, generalizability is interpreted and evaluated
differently.
o In quantitative research, generalizability helps to make inferences about the population.
o In qualitative research, generalizability helps to compare the results to other results from
similar situations.
FACTORS DETERMINING GENERALIZABILITY
There are three factors that determine the generalizability of your study in a probability sampling design:
 The randomness of the sample, with each research unit (e.g., person, business, or organization
in your population) having an equal chance of being selected.
 How representative the sample is of your population?
 The size of your sample, with larger samples more likely to yield statistically significant results.
TYPES OF GENERALIZABILITY
There are two broad types of generalizability:
1. Statistical generalizability, which applies to quantitative research
 Statistical generalizability is critical for quantitative research. The goal of quantitative
research is to develop general knowledge that applies to all the units of a population
while studying only a subset of these units (sample). Statistical generalization is achieved
when you study a sample that accurately mirrors characteristics of the population. The
sample needs to be sufficiently large and unbiased.
2. Theoretical generalizability (also referred to as transferability), which applies to qualitative
research
 In qualitative research, statistical generalizability is not relevant. By studying individual
cases, researchers will try to get results that they can extend to similar cases. This is
known as theoretical generalizability or transferability.
STEPS THAT ENSURE GENERALIZABILITY IN RESEARCH
In order to apply your findings on a larger scale, you should take the following steps to ensure your
research has sufficient generalizability.

1. Define your population in detail. By doing so, you will establish what it is that you intend
to make generalizations about. For example, are you going to discuss students in general,
or students on your campus?
2. Use random sampling. If the sample is truly random (i.e., everyone in the population is
equally likely to be chosen for the sample), then you can avoid sampling bias and ensure
that the sample will be representative of the population.
3. Consider the size of your sample. The sample size must be large enough to support the
generalization being made. If the sample represents a smaller group within that
population, then the conclusions have to be downsized in scope.
4. If you’re conducting qualitative research, try to reach a saturation point of important
themes and categories. This way, you will have sufficient information to account for all
aspects of the phenomenon under study.
5. After completing your research, take a moment to reflect on the generalizability of your
findings.