Construct Validity Definition

Construct validity is the degree to which a measure accurately reflects the concept it is intended to measure. A construct is a theoretical concept, and in order for a measure to be considered valid, it must accurately reflect that concept.

There are several types of evidence that can be used to establish construct validity, including face validity, content validity, concurrent validity, and predictive validity. Face validity is the degree to which a measure appears to be measuring what it is supposed to be measuring. Content validity is the degree to which a measure covers all of the relevant content related to the construct. Concurrent validity is the degree to which a measure correlates with other measures of similar constructs. Predictive validity is the degree to which a measure can accurately predict future outcomes.

Construct validity can be established through multiple studies using different methods and measuring different constructs. The more evidence there is supporting construct validity, the more confidence researchers can have in the accuracy of the measure.