Validity: Concept and Types. | Psychological Testing and Assessment | BA Sem 5 Psychology

Validity: Concept and Types

Validity in psychological testing is concerned with the accuracy and appropriateness of the inferences, interpretations, and actions based on test scores. In other words, it asks whether a test is measuring what it claims to measure. There are different types of validity that help assess various aspects of a test's effectiveness. Let's explore them:

 

1. Content Validity:

   - Concept: Content validity ensures that a test adequately samples the behavior or skill it is intended to measure. It involves a thorough examination of the test's content to ensure it covers all relevant aspects of the construct being measured.

   - Procedure: Experts in the field review the test items to confirm their relevance and representativeness of the content domain.

   - Example: If you are creating a test to measure mathematics proficiency, content validity would involve ensuring that the test includes a representative sample of the various topics within mathematics.

 

2. Criterion-Related Validity:

   - Concept: This type of validity assesses how well a test predicts or correlates with a criterion that is external to the test.

   - Types:

      - Concurrent Validity: Compares the test scores to a criterion that is measured at the same time.

      - Predictive Validity: Examines the ability of the test to predict future performance on a criterion.

   - Example: If a university admissions test is found to predict students' first-year GPA, it demonstrates predictive validity.

 

3. Construct Validity:

   - Concept: Construct validity assesses whether a test measures the theoretical construct or trait it is designed to measure.

   - Procedure: It involves examining the relationships between the test and other measures to support the theoretical framework underlying the construct.

   - Example: If a creativity test correlates positively with measures of innovative problem-solving, it provides evidence of construct validity for the creativity construct.

 

4. Concurrent Validity:

   - Concept: Concurrent validity is a sub-type of criterion-related validity. It assesses the degree to which the test scores are related to a criterion measured at the same time.

   - Procedure: Administer the test and measure the criterion simultaneously, then assess the correlation between the two sets of scores.

   - Example: If a new depression screening tool is administered to a group of individuals along with an established measure of depression, and the scores correlate strongly, it suggests concurrent validity.

 

5. Face Validity:

   - Concept: Face validity is the superficial appearance that a test measures what it claims to measure. It's more about the perception of the test by individuals who take it or those reviewing it.

   - Procedure: Subjective judgment by individuals who look at the test and assess whether it appears to measure the intended construct.

   - Example: If a test claims to measure intelligence, individuals may look at the items and judge whether they seem like reasonable indicators of intelligence.

 

In summary, validity is a multifaceted concept that involves ensuring a test is measuring what it purports to measure. The different types of validity provide a comprehensive framework for evaluating different aspects of a test's validity, from the representativeness of content to its predictive and construct-related qualities.