Which type of validity focuses on whether the content of a test is representative of the domain it is supposed to cover?

Content validity is crucial in assessing whether a test adequately represents the specific content it is intended to measure. This type of validity examines the alignment between the test items and the overarching construct or domain, ensuring that the questions or tasks included accurately reflect the knowledge or skills being evaluated. For example, if a test is designed to measure mathematical skills, content validity would assess whether the problems presented cover the range of topics typically included in math curricula.

In contrast, predictive validity refers to how well a test can forecast future performance based on its scores, while construct validity evaluates whether a test truly measures the theoretical construct it claims to assess. Criterion validity focuses on the correlation between test scores and outcomes or criteria that are set outside of the test itself. Each of these other forms of validity serves a distinct purpose, but content validity specifically pertains to the representative coverage of the material relevant to the test's intended domain.