Validity Essay, Research Paper

Key Terms (pp. 344-347)

 concurrent validity- A classification of criterion validity whereby a new measure correlates with a criterion measure taken at the same time (p. 344.)

 predictive validity- A classification of criterion validity whereby a new measure predicts a future event or correlates with a criterion measure administered at a later time (p. 344.)

 construct validity- The ability of a measure to conform a network of related hypotheses generated from a theory based on concepts (p. 344.)

 discriminant validity- The ability of some measure to have a low correlation with measures of dissimilar concepts (p. 344.)

 sensitivity- A measurement instrument?s ability to acutely measure variability in stimuli or responses(p. 355)

Examples of Key Terms

 An example of predictive validity is the use of flash cards to teach my daughter the alphabet where as concurrent validity is demonstrated by the feedback received after each flash card.

 If my daughter learned the alphabet and began to form words then this could be an example of construct validity.

 Discriminant validity may be demonstrated by the alphabet flash cards helping my daughter to improve her counting abilities due to the focus on memorization.

 The range of responses on United Parcel Service?s ERI survey demonstrates the sensitivity of a scale.

Reliability and Validity

 The measure of a man?s physiological response to a porterhouse steak (ex. saliva production) on a restaurant?s menu may be highly reliable. Though the response doesn?t constitute a valid measure of purchase intention, because it doesn?t consider his wife asking him to try a healthier chicken platter. This example illustrates the difference between reliability and validity.