National Counselor Exam (NCE)

When reviewing a candidate's GRE scores in relation to GPA, what form of validity is being assessed?

1. Construct validity

2. Criterion-related validity

3. Content validity

4. Face validity

The correct answer is: Criterion-related validity

When examining a candidate's GRE scores in comparison to their GPA, the assessment focuses on criterion-related validity. This type of validity measures how well one variable (in this case, GRE scores) predicts an outcome or correlates with another variable (GPA). Both standardized test scores and academic performance are used as benchmarks to evaluate how effectively the GRE serves as an indicator of a student's potential success in academia. Criterion-related validity is particularly pertinent in educational settings where tests like the GRE aim to predict academic success. A strong correlation between GRE scores and GPA would indicate that the GRE is a valid tool for assessing a candidate's ability to perform well in graduate studies. In contrast, the other types of validity mentioned do not directly pertain to the relationship between two measurable criteria. Construct validity is concerned with how well a test measures the theoretical construct it purports to measure, content validity refers to how well a test covers the material it's supposed to assess, and face validity relates to the extent to which a test appears effective to those who take it or are affected by it, but does not assess the actual predictive power or correlation with other established measures like GPA.