Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) Certified Professional Practice Exam

The process of applying findings from a clinical trial to a broader patient population is known as what?

1. Extrapolation

2. Generalization

3. Validation

4. Sampling

The correct answer is: Generalization

The correct answer, generalization, refers to the ability to extend the results of a clinical trial beyond the specific participants involved in the study to a larger, more diverse patient population. This concept is critical in clinical research as it helps determine if the findings can be applicable and effective for a wider audience, which informs treatment guidelines, healthcare policies, and clinical practices. Generalization involves assessing whether the characteristics of the study sample align with those of the broader population. If the trial had a diverse and representative sample, the results can often be more confidently generalized. This is vital in ensuring that medical interventions are safe and effective across different demographics and disease variations. In contrast, extrapolation typically refers to making predictions about new data points within a range based on known data, which could be misleading if the data does not genuinely reflect broader conditions. Validation pertains to confirming the reliability and accuracy of the findings, while sampling deals with the selection of individuals that constitute the study group. These concepts do not specifically refer to the application of trial findings to a larger patient population, which is the essence of generalization.