Content validity is best described as what?

• A. The degree to which test items represent the domain intended to be measured.
• B. The degree to which test results align with another test measuring the same construct.
• C. The degree to which scores predict future performance.
• D. The degree to which a test is free from measurement errors.

Answer: (A)

Content validity means the test items cover the full domain of content you intend to measure. In practice, this is about representativeness: do the questions, tasks, and items include the key areas that define the construct (for example, the relevant language skills and aspects you want to assess in a language disorders exam) and exclude material outside that domain? Experts typically review the items, map them to a content blueprint, and confirm that important subtopics are included and balanced. This focus on coverage and relevance distinguishes content validity from other validity types.

Tracking other concepts helps clarify what content validity is not. Alignment with another test measuring the same construct describes criterion validity (a different form of validity). Predicting future performance reflects predictive validity, a subtype of criterion validity. A test being free from measurement errors relates to reliability, not validity.