The degree to which a test or measurement actually measures the theoretical concept it claims to measure. It involves demonstrating that the measure relates to other variables in theoretically predicted ways and doesn't measure unrelated constructs.
Developed by Lee Cronbach and Paul Meehl in 1955, combining 'construct' from Latin construere (to build up) referring to theoretical concepts, and 'validity.' They introduced this as the most sophisticated form of validity, requiring extensive theoretical and empirical work.
It's like asking: does your 'happiness meter' actually measure happiness, or is it secretly measuring how much people want to appear happy? Many personality tests fail this test spectacularly!
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