What does validity refer to in measurement?

• A. Degree to which a measurement appears to test what it is supposed to
• B. Degree to which a measurement yields consistent results over time
• C. Degree to which a useful or meaningful interpretation can be inferred from a measurement
• D. Degree to which scores relate to unrelated constructs

Answer: (C)

Validity in measurement is about whether the test actually measures what it’s intended to measure and whether the conclusions drawn from the scores are meaningful and appropriate for the purpose. The best choice captures this: it rests on the idea that a measurement should allow us to infer a useful interpretation about the trait or construct being assessed. A test can feel credible on appearance (face validity) or yield consistent results (reliability) without truly measuring the right construct. And if scores relate to unrelated constructs, that undermines validity by showing the measure isn’t capturing the intended concept. So, validity centers on the meaningfulness and appropriateness of interpretations derived from the measurement.