Question

________ is the degree to which something measures what it is intended to measure.

1) Generalizability
2) Verifiability
3) Validity
4) Reliability

Answer 1

Validity is the degree to which something measures what it is intended to measure. Option 3 is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

When discussing the concepts of reliability and validity in research, it is important to recognize that they are distinct, yet related, characteristics of measurement. Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, indicating that the same data would be collected each time in repeated observations under identical conditions. However, reliability does not imply that the measurements are accurate in terms of reflecting the actual concept being measured.

This is why validity is essential. Validity assesses the accuracy of a given result in measuring what it is designed to measure. This can be illustrated by the example of a kitchen scale that may reliably give the same reading for a given amount of cereal but could be incorrectly calibrated, thus providing incorrect measurements.

A scale may possess high reliability but still lack validity if it consistently produces an inaccurate representation of weight. An instrument that measures what it claims to measure, such as a questionnaire that truly captures the psychological construct it intends to assess, is considered valid.

Option 3 is correct.

Answer 2

Validity is the extent to which a measure accurately reflects what it is intended to measure, while reliability refers to the consistency of a measurement. A valid measure must also be reliable, but a reliable measure is not necessarily valid.

Step-by-step explanation:

Validity is the degree to which something measures what it is intended to measure. This concept is essential for ensuring that the results of any measurement are indeed accurate, and it is distinguished from reliability, which refers to the consistency of a measure. While a reliable measure yields the same results under the same conditions, it does not necessarily mean that the measure accurately represents what it is intended to. To ensure validity, researchers may look for construct validity, which confirms that a measure truly reflects the concept it's intending to measure, or ecological validity, ensuring that the results generalize to real-world settings. Conversely, reliability involves types like inter-rater reliability, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability, all of which contribute to the consistency of the measurements or observations.