For example, the extent to which a test measures intelligence is a question of construct validity. Validity is important because it can help determine what types of tests to use, and help to make sure researchers are using methods that are not only ethical, and cost-effective, but also a method that truly measures the idea or constructs in question.Ĭonstruct validity refers to the extent to which operationalizations of a construct (e.g., practical tests developed from a theory) measure a construct as defined by a theory. This has the effect of making claims of 'scientific or statistical validity' open to interpretation as to what, in fact, the facts of the matter mean.

This is why 'scientific or statistical validity' is a claim that is qualified as being either strong or weak in its nature, it is never necessary nor certainly true. By contrast, 'scientific or statistical validity' is not a deductive claim that is necessarily truth preserving, but is an inductive claim that remains true or false in an undecided manner.

The conclusion of an argument is true if the argument is sound, which is to say if the argument is valid and its premises are true. In logic, validity refers to the property of an argument whereby if the premises are true then the truth of the conclusion follows by necessity. The use of the term in logic is narrower, relating to the relationship between the premises and conclusion of an argument. It is generally accepted that the concept of scientific validity addresses the nature of reality in terms of statistical measures and as such is an epistemological and philosophical issue as well as a question of measurement. In psychometrics, validity has a particular application known as test validity: 'the degree to which evidence and theory support the interpretations of test scores' ('as entailed by proposed uses of tests'). face validity, construct validity, etc.) described in greater detail below. Validity is based on the strength of a collection of different types of evidence (e.g.

The validity of a measurement tool (for example, a test in education) is the degree to which the tool measures what it claims to measure. The word 'valid' is derived from the Latin validus, meaning strong. Validity is the main extent to which a concept, conclusion or measurement is well-founded and likely corresponds accurately to the real world.

Reliability and validity definition