Mississippi Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What is the meaning of validity in the context of reading assessment?

1. The consistency of test results over time

2. The degree to which tests measure what they claim to measure

3. The ability to assess multiple skills at once

4. The test's ease of administration

The correct answer is: The degree to which tests measure what they claim to measure

In the context of reading assessment, validity refers specifically to the degree to which a test accurately measures what it is intended to measure. For instance, if a test is designed to assess reading comprehension, its validity would hinge upon how well the test items actually evaluate a student's ability to understand and interpret text. A test with high validity means that the results can be trusted to reflect the true level of a student's reading ability rather than extraneous factors, such as test-taking strategies or unrelated skills. This is crucial for educators and policymakers, as valid assessments provide meaningful data for making instructional decisions and supporting student learning. While other factors are important in testing—such as consistency of results over time, the ability to assess multiple skills, and the ease of administration—these aspects do not address the core essence of validity, which is about the appropriateness of the inferences drawn from test scores.