Validity refers to ...

• A. The accuracy with which a measure assesses what it intends to measure
• B. The generalizability of results to other settings or times
• C. The consistency of results across items
• D. The reliability across repeated administrations

Answer: (A)

Validity is about the accuracy with which a measure assesses what it intends to measure. In other words, the scores should reflect the actual construct of interest and not be distorted by irrelevant factors. For example, a test designed to measure algebra ability should tap into algebra skills and not be unduly affected by reading speed or test-taking strategies. This kind of evidence—how well the items align with the construct, how scores relate to other valid measures of the same construct, and how well they predict relevant outcomes—underpins validity. By contrast, generalizability concerns whether findings hold across settings or times, which is a different consideration, and reliability concerns consistency of scores across items or repeated administrations.