What type of validity is established when scores on a new assessment strongly correlate with a recognized "gold standard"?

Criterion validity is established when scores on a new assessment demonstrate a strong correlation with a recognized "gold standard." This type of validity assesses how well one measure predicts an outcome based on another established measure. In practice, if a new assessment is designed to evaluate a specific construct or outcome, a strong correlation with a standard that is already well-validated indicates that the new assessment is measuring the same underlying construct effectively.

In this context, criterion validity helps establish the accuracy and reliability of the new assessment by comparing it directly to the recognized standard. When developers of assessments evaluate criterion validity, they can determine whether their new tool can provide similar or complementary results as the established measure, thus affirming its usefulness in clinical or research settings. The presence of a strong correlation suggests that the new assessment is dependable and provides a meaningful way to understand the construct being measured.