October 2025 | Conference Paper
Reasons to Replace Term Ecological Validity with Terms Mundane Realism and External Validity
Cite This Publication
Margaret H. Pinson, Lucjan Janowski, and Mark D. Gross, “Reasons to Replace Term Ecological Validity with Terms Mundane Realism and External Validity,” in 17th International Conference on Quality of Multimedia Experience (QoMEX 2025) Madrid, Spain, September-October 2025.
Margaret H. Pinson 
, Lucjan Janowski, and Mark D. Gross
Abstract:
The term ecological validity is widely used across IEEE publications, but its definition and application remain inconsistent and ambiguous. This paper explores how conflicting definitions of ecological validity lead to confusion about exper-imental conditions and data interpretation. Because the term ecological validity conflates methods with outcomes and presumes that realism creates validity, we argue against its continued use as a separate term. Instead, we recommend using external validity and mundane realism. We believe this change would increase rigor in scientific communications, eliminate ambiguities, and open a transdisciplinary dialogue.
Keywords: experiment design; subjective experiments; ecological validity; psychological realism; external validity; mundane realism; internal validity; psychological validity
For technical information concerning this report, contact:
Margaret H. Pinson
Institute for Telecommunication Sciences
(720) 601-7314
mpinson@ntia.gov
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Funding Information
Performing Agency
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Institute for Telecommunication Sciences
325 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80305
https://ror.org/00mj5bc69
Funding Agency
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Herbert C. Hoover Building
14th and Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230
https://ror.org/032241511
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