What type of validity indicates that a test measures the theoretical construct it intends to measure?

• A. Construct validity
• B. Content validity
• C. Criterion-related validity
• D. Face validity

Answer: (A)

Construct validity is about whether a test actually measures the theoretical trait it is meant to assess. It looks at how well the items map onto the construct and whether the results align with theoretical expectations—for example, the test should correlate with related constructs (convergent validity) and not correlate with unrelated ones (discriminant validity), and the underlying factor structure should fit the concept being measured. This is distinct from content validity, which asks if the items cover the domain of the construct; from face validity, which concerns whether the test appears to measure what it should; and from criterion-related validity, which is about predicting external outcomes. So, when a test truly measures the intended theoretical construct, it demonstrates strong construct validity.