Internal validity is refers to causality and external validity is about generalizing to the public

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Internal validity refers to how well a research study is conducted and how confidently one can conclude that the observed effects were produced solely by the independent variables. It’s about the integrity of the experimental design and determines whether the results of a study accurately represent what really happened in the experiment.

External validity, on the other hand, refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized or applied to other settings, populations or situations outside of the experimental setup. It involves factors such as sample selection, setting, time and environmental conditions.

In essence, internal validity is about accuracy within the context of your study while external validity is about applicability beyond your study.