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In a cross-cultural replication, external validity is observed if the same effects that have been
found in one culture are replicated in another culture. If they are not replicated in the new
culture, then a limiting condition of the original results is found.
Unless the researcher has a specific reason to believe that generalization will not hold, it is
appropriate to assume that a result found in one population (even if that population is college
students) will generalize to other populations. Because the investigator can never demonstrate
that the research results generalize to all populations, it is not expected that the researcher will
attempt to do so. Rather, the burden of proof rests on those who claim that a result will not
generalize.