validity, criterion

n. Criterion validity examines the relationship between a target measure and known, accepted criteria of the same (or a very similar) construct. For example, the criterion validity of a self-report measure of introversion may examine the correlation of self-report scores with actual behavior in social situations; a high correlation would provide support for the criterion validity of the self-report introversion measure. Ideally, the criteria used for comparison will be direct and objective; when direct measures of the target phenomenon are not available, similar constructs may be used as a basis to compare qualities such as the strength or direction of the correlation. Criterion validity may examine the correlation of a measure with future performance (called predictive validity) or with a current, similar measure (called concurrent validity). Because of the overlap between criterion and concurrent validity, these terms are often used interchangeably. – BJM