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Education QUESTION #6761
Question 1
A subject specialist developing a physics test wants to ensure that the test measures "understanding of Newton's Laws" and not merely the ability to memorize formulae. Which type of validity evidence should be most rigorously gathered, and what procedure is most appropriate?
  • Content validity; compare test items with the textbook chapter headings
  • Construct validity; define the construct, identify sub-constructs, list indicators, write items for each indicator, and seek expert judgment and factor analysis✔️
  • Criterion validity; correlate test scores with past exam results
  • Consequence validity; survey students about whether the test was fair
Correct Answer Explanation
Construct validity is the evidence that a test measures the intended theoretical construct. For a nuanced construct like "understanding" (as opposed to memorization), one must: define the construct, identify its sub-constructs (e.g., conceptual understanding vs. procedural), write items targeting each, and validate through expert judgment and factor analysis. This is the rigorous process described in construct validity.