Validity

Validity is central to all aspects of the testing process from conceptualizing the targeted construct to evaluating the consequences of test score interpretations and test use. Validity investigations entail constructing and evaluating coherent and comprehensive arguments for and against test score interpretations and uses. We discuss the relationship between validity and fairness, the argument-based approach to validity, and the need to evaluate the consequences of test score interpretations and test use as part of validity investigations. To help illustrate the argument-based approach we provide a use case of an IUA and validity argument.