What does "validity" in testing ensure?

In testing, "validity" refers to the extent to which a test accurately measures what it is intended to measure. This means that if a test is designed to assess a specific skill or knowledge area, validity ensures that the results genuinely reflect the individual's proficiency in that particular domain. For example, in an educational assessment, if the test aims to evaluate math skills, validity ensures that the questions on the test are relevant to math and effectively gauge the student's understanding and abilities in that subject.

The other concepts related to testing, such as fairness in administration, acceptance by stakeholders, and replicability, address different aspects of assessment quality but do not define validity itself. While a test may be administered fairly, have broad acceptance, or be replicable, these characteristics do not guarantee that the test effectively measures its intended construct. Thus, the emphasis on validity as the core ensuring factor highlights the need for accuracy and relevance in the test's purpose and content.