Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Practice

Which type of validity is determined by the appearance of a test's content?

1. Criterion validity

2. Face validity

3. Construct validity

4. Content validity

The correct answer is: Face validity

Face validity refers to the extent to which a test appears to measure what it is intended to measure, based solely on its content and format. It is often assessed through the subjective judgments of individuals who are not necessarily experts in the field. This type of validity focuses on whether the test seems relevant and appropriate for its intended purpose, from the perspective of those who will take it. For example, if a test designed to measure mathematical ability includes problems that clearly pertain to mathematics, it is likely to have high face validity. This perception can boost confidence in the test among test-takers and stakeholders, even if it doesn't provide evidence that the test accurately predicts performance on future tasks. Other forms of validity, like criterion validity, focus on the relationship between test scores and specific outcomes or measures; construct validity examines whether a test accurately represents a theoretical concept, while content validity evaluates the extent to which the test covers the relevant domain of content comprehensively. These types involve more rigorous evaluation than the straightforward appearance-based assessment associated with face validity.