Suppose that answering "true" to the question "I drink a lot of water" happens to help predict depression. Would it be wise to include this item on a test used to identify depression?
A) yes, because the essential characteristic of a good test is that it predicts relevant behaviors
B) no, because there is no theoretical link between drinking water and being depressed
C) yes, because there is a theoretical link between drinking water and being depressed
D) maybe, depending upon the theoretical orientation of the test developer

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The essential characteristic of a good test, especially in the context of psychological assessments, is its ability to predict relevant behaviors or conditions accurately. If an item helps predict depression, it can be considered useful for the test, regardless of the apparent theoretical link between the behavior (drinking a lot of water) and the condition (depression).

Suppose That Answering "True" to the Question "I Drink a Lot