9.3.4 Validity

Describes What is Meant by Validity, Specifically: Construct Validity, Content Validity, Face Validity and Criterion Validity (Concurrent and Predictive Validity)

Validity is an important aspect of research that refers to the extent to which a measure accurately measures what it is supposed to measure. There are different types of validity that can be considered in research, including construct validity, content validity, face validity, and criterion validity (concurrent and predictive validity).

Construct Validity:

Construct validity refers to the extent to which a test or measurement tool accurately measures the underlying theoretical construct it is intended to measure. In other words, construct validity demonstrates that the test is measuring what it claims to measure, and the results can be interpreted in the context of the underlying theory. Establishing construct validity often involves examining the relationships between the test and other measures or variables that are theoretically related to the construct. For example, a test designed to measure intelligence should show a strong relationship with other well-established measures of intelligence and should also correlate with variables that are theoretically related to intelligence, such as academic achievement.

Content Validity:

Content validity is the extent to which a test or measurement tool represents all the relevant aspects of the construct it is intended to measure. This type of validity focuses on the adequacy and appropriateness of the test items or questions in capturing the full range of the construct. Content validity is often assessed by subject-matter experts who review the test items to determine whether they adequately represent the construct of interest. For example, an exam designed to assess knowledge in a specific subject area should include questions that cover all the critical topics within that subject to ensure that the test has strong content validity.

Face Validity:

Face validity refers to the extent to which a test or measurement tool appears, at face value, to measure the construct it is intended to measure. It is a subjective assessment of whether the test items seem relevant and appropriate to the test-takers and other stakeholders. Face validity is the most superficial form of validity and does not provide strong evidence for the test’s ability to accurately measure the construct of interest. However, a test with good face validity can increase the test-taker’s acceptance and motivation to engage with the test, which may contribute to better overall test performance.

Criterion Validity:

Criterion validity is the extent to which a test or measurement tool correlates with an external criterion or “gold standard” that is known to measure the construct of interest. Criterion validity is further divided into two types: concurrent validity and predictive validity. Concurrent validity is demonstrated when the test results correlate strongly with the criterion measure at the same time. In contrast, predictive validity is demonstrated when the test results correlate with the criterion measure at a future time point. For example, a new test designed to assess job performance would demonstrate strong criterion validity if its scores correlate highly with actual job performance measures, either concurrently or predictively.

Type of Validity	Description
Construct Validity	The extent to which a measure or test is assessing the intended theoretical construct. This involves examining the underlying theory and hypothesis that the measure is supposed to represent.
Content Validity	The extent to which a measure or test represents all aspects of the construct being measured. This involves examining the content of the measure or test and ensuring that all aspects of the construct are included.
Face Validity	The extent to which a measure or test appears to be measuring what it is intended to measure, based on surface-level examination. This involves assessing whether the measure appears to be valid to those who are taking or using it.
Criterion Validity	The extent to which a measure or test is correlated with a relevant criterion, such as a gold standard measure or real-world outcomes. Criterion validity includes two subtypes: concurrent validity and predictive validity.
Concurrent Validity	The extent to which a measure or test is correlated with a criterion that is measured at the same time.
Predictive Validity	The extent to which a measure or test is correlated with a criterion that is measured at a future time.

Overall, understanding the different types of validity is important in ensuring that measures used in research are accurate and reliable.

References:

1. DeVellis, R. F. (2017). Scale development: Theory and applications (4th ed.). Sage publications.

2. American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, & National Council on Measurement in Education. (2014). Standards for educational and psychological testing. American Educational Research Association.
3. Streiner, D. L., & Norman, G. R. (2015). Health measurement scales: A practical guide to their development and use. Oxford University Press.