What are the three main types of validity used in educational assessments?

The three main types of validity in educational assessments are content validity, criterion validity, and construct validity.

Content validity refers to the degree to which an assessment accurately represents the content it's intended to measure. This means that the assessment items cover the domain of knowledge or skills that are being evaluated, ensuring that it aligns with the curriculum and learning objectives.

Criterion validity involves evaluating how well one measure predicts an outcome based on another measure. This is often determined by comparing the assessment results with a benchmark or standard that is already recognized as valid. For example, if a new test scores correlate strongly with an established test, it demonstrates strong criterion validity.

Construct validity is the extent to which an assessment truly measures a theoretical construct or trait, such as intelligence, motivation, or learning ability. This type of validity shows that the test is not only measuring raw scores but is also accurately capturing the underlying differences and qualities it purports to assess.

Each of these types of validity helps ensure that assessments are reliable and meaningful, contributing to the overall effectiveness of educational evaluation. The other options either mix different concepts of assessment or do not align with the standard definitions used in educational measurement.