Validity
Definition
Validity refers to the extent to which a test or experiment measures what it is supposed to measure.
Analogy
Think of validity like a weighing scale. If you step on the scale and it shows your correct weight, then the scale is valid - it's doing its job correctly. But if the scale always shows 10 pounds more than your actual weight, then it's not valid - it's not measuring what it's supposed to measure.
Related terms
Reliability: This refers to the consistency of a research study or measuring test. For example, if that same weighing scale gives you different readings every time you step on it, then it lacks reliability.
Construct Validity: This type of validity ensures that the measure of a variable actually measures the construct it is designed to measure. For instance, if an intelligence test measures intelligence and not something else (like memory), then we can say this test has construct validity.
Content Validity: This refers to how well a test measures all aspects of a given social concept. For example, if an exam covers all topics taught in an AP Psychology course rather than just one topic, then this exam has content validity.
"Validity" appears in:
Study guides (2)
Practice Questions (16)
- Which of the following best describes validity in the context of intelligence testing?
- Why might modern psychologists question the validity of Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development?
- What could be an unconventional perspective concerning the validity of the Hawthorne effect in psychology?
- Which aspect most challenges the validity of Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory?
- What is the best way to ensure validity when constructing an argument based on psychological evidence?
- Which psychological concept underlies the validity of intelligence testing?
- Which type of validity refers to the extent that a test predicts future performance on related tasks?
- Which type of validity ensures that a test measures the concept it's intended to measure?
- What does the concept of "validity" refer to in psychometric testing?
- Why is validity an important concept in psychometrics?
- Why might a psychologist critique the validity of an IQ test?
- Which type of validity ensures an aptitude test can accurately predict future grades or job success?
- What type of validity do personality tests need to have to predict future behavior effectively?
- What counterargument challenges the validity of DSM-5 as a diagnostic tool for mental illnesses?
- Which alteration could increase the validity in an experiment testing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy's impact on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
- How might self-serving bias challenge the validity of self-report measures in psychological studies?
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.