What does construct validity refer to in testing?

Construct validity refers to the degree to which a test accurately measures the theoretical concept or construct that it is intended to measure. This is crucial for ensuring that the inferences drawn from test scores are meaningful and applicable to the specific construct in question.

For example, if a test is designed to measure a psychological trait such as anxiety, it must effectively capture the dimensions of anxiety as defined by psychological theory. Establishing strong construct validity involves demonstrating that the test behaves as expected in relation to other variables, and that it correlates with other established measures of the same construct.

In contrast, the other options focus on aspects that, while important in assessing a test's quality, do not encapsulate the essence of construct validity. Reliability pertains to the consistency of test results, which is a separate aspect from construct validity. The ability of a test to be generalizable across various populations relates more to external validity, while test scoring consistency falls under reliability or measurement accuracy. Therefore, the core emphasis of construct validity lies in the accurate measurement of theoretical constructs, making the second choice the correct answer.