Validity

Question 1

Concurrent Validity

Answer 1

• Measures how well a test agrees with other tests that measure the same thing
• Example = compare a new math test to a students current GPA in the class OR compare a new final exam to the previous final exam for a course

Question 2

Content Validity

Answer 2

• Measures how well a test represents the concept its intended to measure
• Example of bad content validity = depression scale that only assesses one dimension of depression
• Example of good content validity = spelling test that includes randomly sampled words from a spelling book

Question 3

Face Validity

Answer 3

• Degree to which a test measures what it says or aims that it is going to
• Example = using a powerpoint test to a person applying to a job that requires the use of powerpoint

Question 4

Construct Validity

Answer 4

• Evaluates how well a test assesses a theoretical concept
• Important for topics that involve concepts that cannot be directly observed or measured (happiness, intelligence, self-confidence)
• Example = a scale measuring happiness

Question 5

Criterion-Related Validity

Answer 5

• Criterion validity examines the relationship between a test or measure (the predictor) and a real world outcome or behavior (the criterion)
• Example = a new goniometer correlates strongly with the results of a gold standard goniometer when measuring ROM