An educational psychologist is testing the discriminant validity of a new measure of numerical learning difficulties.He gives his measure to a group of students along with another measure of verbal learning difficulties,which he predicts should not be strongly related to numerical learning difficulties.Which of the following correlations would the psychologist hope to find in order to establish discriminant validity?
A) r = 1.0
B) r = -1.0
C) r = 0.83
D) r = -0.18
E) Any of the above would be acceptable

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The psychologist would hope to find a low correlation between the numerical learning difficulties measure and the verbal learning difficulties measure in order to establish discriminant validity. A negative correlation (option B) would indicate an inverse relationship between the two measures, which is not necessary for discriminant validity. A perfect correlation (option A) would indicate that the two measures are measuring the exact same thing, which would not establish discriminant validity. Option C is a high correlation and would also not establish discriminant validity. Option D is the best choice as it represents a weak and negative correlation, which would suggest that the two measures are measuring separate constructs. Option E is incorrect as not all choices are acceptable in this case.

An Educational Psychologist Is Testing the Discriminant Validity of a New