Concurrent Validity

Description

Concurrent validity is a type of criterion-related validity that assesses the accuracy of a test by comparing its scores to scores from a well-established measure of the same construct. The scores from the two measures are correlated to determine the strength of the relationship between them. A high correlation coefficient indicates that the two measures are measuring the same construct, while a low correlation coefficient indicates that they are not.

Concurrent validity is the extent to which performance on a measurement is related to current performance on a similar, previously established measurement. For example, let’s say employers have designed their own scale to assess the leadership skills of their employees. They give employees the scale to fill out on the same day as a similar, but longer and decades-old leadership test. If the scores for each employee on both tests are closely related, then the new scale is said to have high concurrent validity.

Definition

Concurrent validity is defined as the degree to which scores on a test correlate with scores on a criterion measure that is taken at the same time. The criterion measure is typically a well-established measure of the same construct that the test is designed to measure.

History

The concept of concurrent validity was first introduced by E.L. Thorndike in 1916. Thorndike defined concurrent validity as “the degree to which the scores on a test correlate with the scores on a criterion measure that is taken at the same time.”

Characteristics

  • Concurrent validity is a type of criterion-related validity.
  • Concurrent validity measures the accuracy of a test by comparing its scores to scores from a well-established measure of the same construct.
  • The scores from the two measures are correlated to determine the strength of the relationship between them.
  • A high correlation coefficient indicates that the two measures are measuring the same construct, while a low correlation coefficient indicates that they are not.

Sources

  • American Psychological Association. (2014). Standards for educational and psychological testing. Washington, DC: Author.
  • Anastasi, A. (1988). Psychological testing (7th ed.). New York: Macmillan.
  • Cronbach, L. J. (1971). Test validation. In R. L. Thorndike (Ed.), Educational measurement (2nd ed., pp. 443-507). Washington, DC: American Council on Education.
  • Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric theory (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.


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