Which statement best describes convergent validity?

• A. It uses correlation with dissimilar constructs to demonstrate divergence.
• B. It measures consistency across time (test-retest reliability).
• C. It uses correlation with similar constructs to indicate convergence.
• D. It is assessed by internal consistency reliability.

Answer: (C)

Convergent validity is about showing that a measurement truly reflects the same underlying construct by linking it to other measures that assess the same thing. It is demonstrated when scores on the new or interest measure correlates strongly with established instruments that are designed to measure the same construct. This pattern of high correlations with similar constructs provides evidence that you’re converging on the intended concept rather than on something different.

Think of it this way: if you’re assessing a new anxiety questionnaire, you’d expect it to align with well-established anxiety scales. That alignment—the strong correlation with related, established measures—supports that the new tool is tapping anxiety as intended. This concept is distinct from discriminant validity, where you’d want low correlations with unrelated constructs to show the measure isn’t measuring something else. It’s also separate from reliability concerns like test-retest reliability (stability over time) or internal consistency (how well items on the scale hang together), which are about consistency rather than validity of the construct being measured.