What is Construct Validity?

There are a number of different measures that can be used to validate tests, one of which is construct validity. Construct validity is used to determine how well a test measures what it is supposed to measure. It’s a critical part in establishing the overall validity of specific testing methodology.

To put it another way: construct validity confirms that a test constructed in a way that it successfully tests what it claims to test.

How is Construct Validity determined?

Construct validity is usually verified by comparing the test to other tests that measure similar qualities to see how highly correlated the two measures are.

For example, one way to demonstrate the construct validity of a cognitive aptitude test is by correlating the outcomes on the test to those found on other widely accepted measures of cognitive aptitude.

Why is Construct Validity important for pre-employment tests?

Construct validity is especially important to establish when you’re attempting to measure something that can’t be directly or physically observed, including things personality, intellect, or aptitude. So for pre-employment tests, construct validity confirms that an assessment is accurately capturing the information it was designed to evaluate, which allows organizations to make data-driven hiring decisions.

By confirming that your testing methods have construct validity, you’re working to reduce the risk that your tests may produce biased or inaccurate results, making this an essential component to fair evaluation in hiring.