Types of validity: concurrent validity and construct validity

In psychometric terms, validity is a concept that has gone through a long evolutionary process. Previously, it was believed that a test was valid for what it correlated with (2).

As we have already mentioned in other articles, within validity there are four types or categories. These are: content validity, predictive validity, concurrent validity and construct validity.

Below we explain what the concurrent validity and construct validity.

Concurrent validity

Concurrent validity is expressed by the evaluation of the facts present in the test. To estimate this type of validity, the test is administered and it is correlated with the criterion – a previously validated measurement instrument.

This type of validity is similar to predictive validity. However, these two types of validity differ in two aspects (1):

The test and criterion measurements are obtained simultaneously.In its primary use. This is obtaining tests as substitutes for other less convenient procedures for various reasons. An example could be a collective intelligence test, which is compared to an individual intelligence test.

The problem with this type of validity is be able to find tests that serve as valid and reliable criteria.

Construct validity

The construct is defined as a hypothetical concept that is part of the theories that attempt to explain human behavior. Examples of this could be creativity or intelligence.

This type of validity answers the question: “How can the test score be explained psychologically?“. The answer to this question can be seen as developing a “mini-theory” about a psychological test.

Thus, construct validity is defined as the obtaining evidence that supports that the behaviors observed in a test are (some) indicators of the construct (1).

The construct validation process involves (1):

Formulate hypotheses and relationships between elements of the constructof this with other constructs of the theory and with other external constructs. Select items (indicators) that represent concrete manifestations of the construct.Data Collect.Establish consistency between data and hypothesesand examine the extent to which the data could be explained by alternative hypotheses.

There is various procedures to establish construct validity (1):

Based on the theory held at that time regarding the test, the psychologist deduces certain hypotheses about the expected behavior of people who obtain different scores on the test. They meet data that confirm or not these hypotheses.Based on the accumulated data, the decision regarding whether the theory adequately explains the data. If this is not the case, the theory must be reviewed and the process repeated until a more accurate explanation is achieved.

So, The validation process, in this case, is in continuous reformulation. The results of the studies that we actually do they do not “validate” or “prove” the entire theorysince a “construction” can never be demonstrated absolutely.

It can simply be accepted as the better job definition that we can count on. If the results are negativethere are at least three possible interpretations (1, 3):

The test can not measuring the “construct” (not measuring what we want it to measure, even if it does measure something).The theoretical framework may be wrongallowing incorrect inferences to be made.The design of the experiment did not allow for an appropriate test of the hypothesis.. Design flaw is usually the easiest error to detect; However, accurately locating the location of the error is a more complex task. The ambiguous interpretation of negative results is an obvious drawback of the “construct” validation procedure.

Concurrent validity and construct validity shed light when validating a test. Thus, there are other aspects to take into account when carrying out a validation.

Practical implications in the validation of a test

These implications should be taken into account in the four types of validation: content validation, predictive validity, concurrent validity and construct validity. The psychologist who uses a test must take into account the following (1):

Before making decisions about individuals or groups, you must accumulate all available information about the test.For prediction or selection, the test must be validated in the specific situation where it is going to be usedIn any situation, the psychologist must keep in mind that Our ideas about the nature of traits and what they measure are constantly changing with new information..

Validity helps us analyze the test in psychology. We already know that A test is better the more valid it is. (in the absence of other variables). A criterion that unfortunately does not always prevail in research, since there are others that come into play, such as economics or availability.