Which type of validity assesses whether the content of a test covers the construct it was designed to cover?

• A. Content validity
• B. Face validity
• C. Criterion validity
• D. Construct validity

Answer: (A)

Content validity examines whether the test items appropriately sample and represent the domain of the construct it aims to measure. In practice, experts review the items to ensure they cover all relevant facets of the construct and do not omit important areas, sometimes using a content validity index to quantify this judgment. This focus on coverage of the content makes it the best fit for the question.

Face validity, by contrast, is about whether the test appears valid to test-takers, which is about appearance rather than actual coverage. Criterion validity looks at how well test scores correlate with an external criterion. Construct validity concerns whether the test truly measures the theoretical construct and how it relates to other measures.