Define validity based on relations with an external criteria and describe two methods for obtaining evidence of it.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• Validity based on relations with external criteria measures how well the test scores correlate with observed behaviors or events. When test scores correlate with specific behaviors, attitudes, or events, we can confirm that there is evidence of validity.

• The predictive method: When it is important to show a relationship between test scores and a future behavior, researchers use the predictive method to establish evidence of validity. In this case, a large group of people take the test (the predictor), and their scores are held for a predetermined time interval, such as 6 months. After the time interval passes, researchers collect a measure of some behavior, for example, a rating or other measure of performance, on the same people (the criterion). Then researchers correlate the test scores with the criterion scores. If the test scores and the criterion scores have a strong relationship, the test has demonstrated predictive evidence of validity.

• The concurrent method: In the concurrent method, test administration and criterion measurement happen at approximately the same time. This method does not involve prediction. Instead, it provides information about the present and the status quo by correlating the test scores of an existing population of individuals with their scores on a criterion variable gathered at approximately the same time.