Criterion Validity

Also known as criterion-related validity, or sometimes predictive or concurrent validity, criterion validity is the general term to describe how well scores on one measure (i.e., a predictor) predict scores on another measure of interest (i.e., the criterion). In other words, a particular criterion or outcome measure is of interest to the researcher; examples could include (but are not limited to) ratings of job performance, grade point average (GPA) in school, a voting outcome, or a medical diagnosis. Criterion validity, then, refers to the strength of the relationship between measures intended to predict the ultimate criterion of interest and the criterion measure itself. In academic settings, for example, the criterion of interest may be GPA, and the predictor being studied is the score on a ...