Suppose someone develops a new test of "roommate compatibility." Which of the following could measure the validity of the test?
A)Check whether the distribution of scores is similar at a variety of colleges.
B)Give the test at the beginning and end of the semester and compare the scores.
C)See whether the test results predict which students will request a change of roommate.
D)See whether the test results predict students' grades.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is the best choice because it tests whether the test is actually measuring what it claims to measure (i.e. roommate compatibility). If the test results can predict which students will want to change roommates, then it is likely that the test is valid. Checking the distribution of scores at different colleges (A) and testing for test-retest reliability (B) are important, but they do not necessarily measure the validity of the test. Seeing whether the test results predict students' grades (D) is not relevant to measuring roommate compatibility.

Suppose Someone Develops a New Test of "Roommate Compatibility