Prescriptive validity means that the measurement suggests the form of treatment the person should receive.

• A. Concurrent validity
• B. Predictive validity
• C. Prescriptive validity
• D. Face validity

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is whether a measurement can guide treatment decisions, not just assess a trait. Prescriptive validity describes how well test results indicate the specific form of treatment a person should receive. When a score points toward a particular therapy as the most appropriate course, that reflects prescriptive validity.

This differs from concurrent validity, which is about alignment with a criterion measured at the same time; predictive validity, which concerns future outcomes; and face validity, which is about the appearance of measuring what it’s supposed to measure. Since the focus here is using the measurement to determine treatment, prescriptive validity is the best fit.