Gaye-Valentine, A., & Credé, M.
Assessing the construct validity of test anxiety: The influence of test characteristics and impact on test score criterion validity
The construct validity of test anxiety requires not only confirmation of its factor structure, distinction from related affective constructs, and negative relationship with test performance, but also requires that the test scores of test anxious individuals have lower levels of predictive validity than the test scores of individuals with lower levels of test anxiety. This paper examines these varying components of the construct validity of test anxiety and presents evidence of the constructs’ unique position within the nomological network as well as evidence that test anxiety reduces the predictive validity of scores on a measure of academic aptitude. Implications for assessment in high stakes settings are discussed.
