Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

What does the successful demonstration of treatment efficacy indicate?

1. Internal validity of treatment

2. Statistical significance of treatment

3. Practical significance of treatment

4. Overall effectiveness of treatment in practice

The correct answer is: Internal validity of treatment

The successful demonstration of treatment efficacy primarily indicates the internal validity of the treatment. Internal validity refers to the extent to which a study can establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the treatment and the outcomes observed. When efficacy is demonstrated, it suggests that the treatment was implemented in a controlled setting, and the observed effects can be attributed directly to that treatment rather than other external factors. In clinical practice, establishing internal validity is crucial because it helps clinicians understand if the treatment works under specific conditions and if the results are credible. This concept helps in determining if a treatment can be reliably used in various contexts and with different populations. While statistical significance (related to hypothesis testing) and practical significance (referring to the real-world applicability of the findings) are also important aspects in evaluating treatment outcomes, they do not inherently relate to the internal validity of a treatment’s effects. Furthermore, overall effectiveness relates more to how well the treatment works in real-world practice, which is a step beyond merely establishing efficacy in controlled conditions. By focusing on internal validity, practitioners can make informed decisions based on strong evidence that a treatment produces the intended outcomes when applied appropriately.