A form of criterion validity where there is evidence that scores from an instrument correspond to concurrently recorded external measures conceptually related to the measured construct.

• A. Concurrent validity
• B. Confirmatory factor analysis
• C. Component matrix
• D. Common factor

Answer: (A)

The key idea is criterion validity, specifically how well an instrument relates to an external measure that should be related to the construct. When that external measure is recorded at roughly the same time as the instrument and is conceptually tied to the construct, we have concurrent validity. A strong association between the instrument scores and this simultaneous external measure provides evidence that the instrument is measuring what it’s intended to measure.

If the external criterion were measured in the future, we’d be looking at predictive validity instead. The other options involve factor analysis concepts (like testing a measurement model or examining factor loadings) and do not describe a form of criterion-related validity.