What refers to the degree to which a test accurately measures the trait or skill it is designed to measure?

The term that refers to the degree to which a test accurately measures the trait or skill it is designed to measure is construct validity. This concept is essential in educational psychology because it ensures that the test actually reflects the theoretical constructs it claims to assess. For instance, if a test is designed to measure mathematical reasoning but inadvertently measures reading comprehension instead, it would lack construct validity.

Construct validity involves both evidence that the test performs as expected concerning the theoretical framework it is based on, as well as its correlation with other measures related to the same construct. This ensures that the interpretations made from the test results are meaningful and accurate, which is critical to the validity of assessments used in educational settings.

In contrast, the other options relate to different aspects of validity and reliability. Content validity assesses whether a test covers the entire range of the construct it measures, while face validity refers to how suitable a test appears on the surface. Reliability pertains to the consistency of a test's results over time or across different assessors. Each of these concepts plays a role in the overall validity of assessments but does not specifically address the accuracy of measuring a trait or skill as construct validity does.