A test developer creates a new instrument to measure depression. He correlates this instrument with an existing test that measures anxiety. The test developer hopes to not find a high correlation, thus assuring the integrity of the construct he is measuring. This type of validity is called:
A) experimental design validity.
B) factor analysis validity.
C) convergent validity.
D) criterion-related validity.
E) discriminant validity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Discriminant validity refers to the ability of a test to distinguish between different constructs that it is not supposed to measure. In this case, the test developer is hoping to not find a high correlation between the depression instrument and the anxiety test, indicating that the depression instrument is measuring something different than anxiety - thus demonstrating discriminant validity.

A Test Developer Creates a New Instrument to Measure Depression