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Validity

Definition

Validity refers to how well something measures what it claims to measure or how accurate and reliable its results are.

Analogy

Imagine taking an online quiz with questions related to geography. If those questions accurately test your knowledge in geography, then we can say that the quiz has high validity. However, if it asks irrelevant questions about cooking, then its validity would be questioned.

Related terms

Reliability: The consistency and stability of measurements or results over time.

Bias: A systematic error in research that skews the results in a particular direction.

Generalizability: The extent to which research findings apply to populations beyond the study sample.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.