Term: External Validity

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Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2012-12-03

Definition:

This term is used in the MCHP Data Quality Framework. The relationship between the values in a data file or results of a project and an external source of similar or identical information that is assumed to be error free. For example, if caesarean section rates computed from a data file are much higher or lower than values published in a report that are based on another data source, this might suggest a lack of external validity.

Related terms 

• Data Quality
• Data Quality Framework
• Database-Specific Quality
• Internal Validity
• Project-Specific Quality
• Validity - Data Quality

References 

• Lix L, Smith M, Azimaee M, Dahl M, Nicol P, Burchill C, Burland E, Goh C, Schultz J, Bailly A. A Systematic Investigation of Manitoba's Provincial Laboratory Data. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] (View)