Question

A researcher developed a new intelligence test for elementary school children. However, the researcher fears that the scores from the test may actually be measuring the children’s reading ability. To show that the test is really measuring intelligence and not reading ability, the researcher must demonstrate ____validity.
a. face
b. concurrent
c. criterion
d. divergent

Answer 1

Answer:

d. divergent

Explanation:

Validity is a term signifying if a test or research actually measures what it should measure.

To show that the test is really measuring intelligence and not reading ability, it has to be proven that the results are really indicating that what you want to measure. Divergent validity compares this test with an earlier test and measures how much the results vary in both tests. The lesser they do, the more the test actually measures intelligence.

The other forms mean:

1. Face: Does the researcher, at face value, have the idea that the results are valid?
2. Concurrent: Measures in what way the test results correlate with other criteria and therefore can be used for predictive statements, e.g. measuring intelligence in this school, and another school with a higher budget. The expectation is the results are higher with the higher budget (because of several theories on the topic), so if the outcome matches that, it has concurrent validity
3. Criterion: Does the test has an outcome that matches the theory?