assessing validity (U4)

• face validity 


  whether the test appears (at face value) to measure what it claims, hence, it is subjective.

  • least sophisticated measure of validity - tests where the purpose is clear, even to naive respondents, are said to have high face validity.
• predictive validity


  the degree to which a test accurately forecasts a future outcome on a more broadly related topic - do the findings apply in different and more varied situations?
• content validity


  this objectively checks whether the method of measuring behaviour is accurate and decides whether it is a fair test which achieves the aims of the study.

  this can be carried out by asking an expert in that specific area of behaviour to check if the test is valid.
• concurrent validity


  validating a measurement by comparing it with an established one that has known validity.

  if there are similar scores on both measurements, there is concurrent validity.
• construct validity


  assesses the extent that a test measures the target construct.

  • it is achieved by checking the existing definitions of the behaviour being studied and redesigning the test if it measures a different construct.