The concept describing whether a test measures what it intends to measure is called what?

The concept describing whether a test measures what it intends to measure is called what?

• A. Dependability
• B. Vulnerability
• C. Reliability
• D. Validity

Answer: (D)

Validity is the degree to which a test actually measures what it is intended to measure. It asks whether the test scores reflect the exact construct or trait you mean to assess, not something else. For example, if a test is designed to gauge algebra reasoning, validity means the items truly tap algebra skills and the results align with other evidence about algebra ability. There are different ways to support validity, such as content validity (items cover the right domain), construct validity (scores behave as theory predicts with related constructs), and criterion validity (scores predict relevant outcomes). Reliability, on the other hand, is about consistency of results across time or items. A test can be reliable (consistent) without being valid (measuring the right thing), but a valid test must provide interpretable scores for the intended purpose.

Validity is the degree to which a test actually measures what it is intended to measure. It asks whether the test scores reflect the exact construct or trait you mean to assess, not something else. For example, if a test is designed to gauge algebra reasoning, validity means the items truly tap algebra skills and the results align with other evidence about algebra ability. There are different ways to support validity, such as content validity (items cover the right domain), construct validity (scores behave as theory predicts with related constructs), and criterion validity (scores predict relevant outcomes). Reliability, on the other hand, is about consistency of results across time or items. A test can be reliable (consistent) without being valid (measuring the right thing), but a valid test must provide interpretable scores for the intended purpose.