FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

In item analysis, evaluating the validity of a test refers to what?

1. Determining the proportions of correct answers

2. Assessing if the test measures what it is intended to measure

3. Creating parallel forms of the test

4. Deciding on test administration times

The correct answer is: Assessing if the test measures what it is intended to measure

Evaluating the validity of a test is fundamentally about assessing whether the test accurately measures what it claims to measure. Validity ensures that the test results provide meaningful insights related to the specific skills, knowledge, or competencies the test is designed to evaluate. For example, if a test is intended to assess mathematical ability, validity would involve determining whether the questions genuinely reflect mathematical skills rather than unrelated knowledge. The other options do not align with the concept of validity. Determining the proportions of correct answers relates more to scoring and reliability than to validity itself. Creating parallel forms of the test pertains to test design and construction, while deciding on test administration times focuses on logistics rather than the core purpose and effectiveness of the test in measuring the intended constructs. Thus, the central focus on validity in item analysis is accurately reflected in the assessment of whether the test measures its intended objectives.