Able to distinguish between different groups or categories; in research, refers to measures that can differentiate between distinct constructs or populations that should theoretically be different.
From Latin 'discriminare' meaning 'to divide, distinguish,' from 'discrimen' (distinction, crisis). Originally meant the ability to make fine distinctions or judgments. In statistics and psychology, adopted to describe measures that can reliably separate different groups or concepts.
Discriminant validity ensures your measuring tool is like a skilled detective - it can tell the difference between things that should be different! If your anxiety measure also measures depression equally well, it lacks discriminant validity - it's like a witness who can't tell suspects apart.
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