Convergent validity is demonstrated when a measure correlates with measures of the same construct. Which option reflects this?

• A. It is demonstrated by random assignment.
• B. It is demonstrated with test-retest reliability.
• C. It is demonstrated by principal components analysis.
• D. It is demonstrated when a measure correlates with measures of the same construct.

Answer: (D)

Convergent validity is shown when a measure correlates with other established measures of the same construct. This alignment indicates that the new instrument is tapping the same underlying trait as the existing measures, providing evidence that it is valid for that construct. A strong positive correlation with a well-known measure of the same thing demonstrates this convergence.

Why the other ideas don’t fit: random assignment relates to creating equivalent groups in experiments, not to how a measurement relates to other measures. Test-retest reliability examines whether a measure stays consistent over time, not whether it aligns with other measures of the same construct. Principal components analysis looks at the underlying structure of data to identify factors, rather than directly showing that one measure relates to measures of the same construct.