Criterion-related validity is defined as what?

• A. It measures internal consistency reliability.
• B. It assesses how well a measure predicts an outcome it should predict (e.g., SAT scores predicting college performance).
• C. It measures how valid the construct is.
• D. It measures sample representativeness.

Answer: (B)

Criterion-related validity is about whether a measure can predict an outcome it should predict. If a test's scores reliably forecast a relevant criterion, that shows this type of validity. For example, SAT scores predicting college performance (higher scores tend to go with higher college GPA) illustrate predictive validity, a form of criterion-related validity. This differs from internal consistency reliability, which asks if the items on a test are consistent with each other; construct validity, which concerns whether the test actually measures the intended concept; and sample representativeness, which relates to external validity and generalizability rather than prediction of a specific outcome.