NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

What type of test measures the adherence of items to specific criteria or predetermined standards?

1. Criterion-related validity

2. Construct validity

3. Content validity

4. Face validity

The correct answer is: Criterion-related validity

The correct choice is criterion-related validity, which refers to a type of validity that assesses how well one measure predicts an outcome based on another measure. It involves comparing test results to a specific criterion or standard to determine their effectiveness in measuring what they claim to measure. This type of validity is particularly valuable when the goal is to establish a clear and reliable connection between a test and a relevant performance benchmark. For instance, if a new language proficiency test is being evaluated, criterion-related validity would involve correlating the test scores with students' actual performances in real-world language use, such as their ability to communicate effectively in a job setting or in academic environments. The other types of validity mentioned serve different purposes. Construct validity deals with whether a test truly measures the theoretical construct it claims to measure, while content validity focuses on whether the test covers the appropriate content domain. Face validity, on the other hand, involves the test appearing to measure what it is supposed to measure at first glance, without any rigorous analysis of its predictive accuracy. Therefore, criterion-related validity specifically addresses the adherence to predetermined standards, making it the right choice in this context.