12 Questions
What is the primary purpose of establishing validity in a test?
To make accurate inferences from scores on a test
What happens to reliability if a test is not valid?
It is also not reliable
What does validity refer to in a test?
The accuracy of a measure
What is the relationship between validity and reliability?
They are interdependent
What does reliability refer to in a test?
The consistency of a measure
Why is it important to establish validity in a test?
To ensure the test measures what it claims to measure
What is the primary reason why face validity is important?
To ensure that test-takers take interest in taking the test
What does content validity refer to?
The degree to which a test measures an intended content area
Which of the following is an aspect of content validity?
Construct under-representation
How is content validity established?
Through judgement by expert judges
What does concurrent validity refer to?
The degree to which test scores estimate or predict a criterion behaviour or outcome
What is an example of construct irrelevant-variance?
An IQ test that is influenced by reading ability
Study Notes
Validity in Testing
- A good test must be valid, meaning it measures what it intends to measure, and is a crucial aspect of establishing the usefulness of a test score.
- The aim of validity is to enable accurate inferences from test scores, giving meaning to the scores.
Relationship Between Validity and Reliability
- If a test is not valid, reliability is irrelevant.
- If a test is not reliable, it is also not valid.
- Validity indicates the usefulness of a test for a particular situation, while reliability indicates the trustworthiness of a score on that test.
Types of Validity
Face Validity
- Refers to whether a test appears to measure what it is supposed to measure on the surface.
- Determined by a review of the items and not through statistical analyses.
- Important because it affects test-takers' interest and test users' perception of the test's validity.
- However, face validity is insufficient for claiming that a test is valid, and does not refer to what is actually being measured.
Content Validity
- Refers to the degree to which a test measures an intended content area.
- Involves correspondence between items on a test and the content domain.
- Requires specifying the content areas covered by the phenomenon, writing relevant items, and developing a measure of the construct.
- Aspects of content validity include construct under-representation and construct irrelevant-variance.
Establishing Content Validity
- Can be established through judgment by expert judges, who evaluate the relevance of each item to the content domain.
- Can also be established using statistical methods, such as factor analysis.
Criterion Validity
- Refers to how well a test score estimates or predicts a criterion behavior or outcome, now or in the future.
- Includes concurrent validity, which is the extent to which test scores can correctly identify the current state of individuals.
Learn about the importance of validity in psychological testing, including what it measures and how to establish it. Improve your understanding of psychological research and testing methods.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
