Define internal and external validity and explain five threats to internal validity and two threats to external validity

What will be an ideal response?

Internal validity refers to the confidence you have that the results of the evaluation are in fact correct. The threats to internal validity are:
• Maturation: changes that occur due to passage of time
• Testing: the influence of pretesting on learning
• Instrumentation: different tests can cause different scores
• Statistical regression: those who score very high and very low on a test tend to regress to the middle when taking the test again
• Initial group differences: an initial difference between the control group and trainees
• Mortality: loss of group members
• Diffusion of training: interaction of trainees and control group in workplace
• Compensating treatments: when control group is from different department there may be a concern of an unfair advantage
• Compensatory rivalry: the control group may see it as a challenge and compete for higher production
• Demoralized control group: the control group may believe they're not as good and in response give up

External validity is the confidence that the findings you have will generalize to others who undergo the training.
• Testing: if pretest is no longer undertaken, it can be difficult to conclude that future training is effective.
• Selection: Training programs that are designed for one level of employees will not work at all levels of employees due to differences in motivation, KSAs.