What does Criterion Validity refer to in the context of assessments?

Criterion validity refers to the extent to which a measure is related to an outcome or criterion. It is primarily concerned with the correlation between a test or assessment and a specific behavior or performance indicator, which can be either concurrent or predictive.

A strong aspect of criterion validity is its dual nature, where it can assess how well a test correlates with a criterion at the same time (known as concurrent validity) or its ability to predict future performance (known as predictive validity). Therefore, the focus on correlation with established standards or outcomes makes this context of assessment particularly relevant.

The other options represent different aspects of validity or measurement. Simultaneous measurement of the same construct applies more towards how different tools might assess the same underlying attribute rather than their predictive or correlational strengths with established outcomes. Predicting future values specifically highlights one dimension of criterion validity, but does not encompass the entirety of the concept, as it can also involve assessment against simultaneous measures. Not measuring what it shouldn't pertains to construct validity, ensuring the test does not include biases or irrelevant constructs, which is a separate consideration from criterion validity.