concurrent validity
The degree to which a measure correlates with an established criterion measure administered at the same time.
Full Definition
Concurrent validity is a form of criterion validity that examines the relationship between a new assessment instrument and an established measure of the same construct when both are administered simultaneously or within a short timeframe. This psychometric property is crucial for establishing that a new behavioral assessment tool accurately measures what it claims to measure by comparing its results to those of a well-validated criterion measure. High concurrent validity provides evidence that the new instrument can serve as an adequate substitute for more time-consuming or expensive established measures.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from predictive validity, which involves temporal separation between measures.
In Context
- "The new behavioral rating scale demonstrated strong concurrent validity with the established assessment tool (r = .87)." — Psychometric study
- "Concurrent validity coefficients above .70 are generally considered acceptable for clinical decision-making." — Assessment manual