2023 Articles

On Validity

Lauwaert, Pieter

The way in which validity has been conceptualized has changed throughout the years. The focus in validation studies shifted from evaluating distinct components of validity to developing a comprehensive argument for the use and interpretations of test scores. The argument-based approach to validity incorporates the distinct types of the componential approach, underscores Messick’s attention to construct validity, highlights the need for evidence of the evidence-gathering approach, and combines it all into one logical argumentative structure. Such a comprehensive argument is now an indispensable part of validity studies (Dursun & Li, 2021).