What type of validity assesses a test by how well it correlates with a measure that it is intended to predict?

The type of validity that assesses a test by how well it correlates with a measure that it is intended to predict is known as predictive validity. This form of validity evaluates the effectiveness of a test in forecasting future performance or outcomes based on its results. For instance, if a standardized test is designed to predict students' success in college, its predictive validity would be determined by examining the correlation between test scores and actual college performance.

Predictive validity is crucial in fields such as education and psychology because it helps ensure that the assessments used can reliably forecast future behavior or performance. It reflects how well a test can serve its intended purpose in a practical context.

Other types of validity focus on different aspects. Concurrent validity examines how test outcomes correlate with other measures taken at the same time, which is somewhat different from the forward-looking aspect of predictive validity. Construct validity deals with whether a test really measures the theoretical construct it claims to assess. Content validity evaluates how well the test content covers the subject it is intended to measure. Each type is important, but predictive validity directly connects to the effectiveness of a test in anticipating future outcomes.