Table 1.
The five sources of validity evidence5 49
(1) | Evidence based on test content. |
The relationship of the item themes, wording and format with the intended construct, including administration process. | |
(2) | Evidence based on response processes. |
The cognitive processes and interpretation of items by respondents and users, as measured against the intended construct. | |
(3) | Evidence based on internal structure. |
The extent to which item interrelationships conform to the intended construct. | |
(4) | Evidence based on external variables. |
The pattern of relationships of test scores to external variables as predicted by the intended construct. | |
(5) | Evidence based on the consequences of testing. |
Intended and unintended consequences, as can be traced to a source of invalidity such as construct under-representation or construct-irrelevant variance. |