Types of validity in instruments – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B, C and D correctly describe common types of validity. Content validity concerns coverage of the domain, construct validity addresses whether the underlying concept is measured, criterion-related validity compares scores to an external standard and face validity reflects how appropriate the test appears. Statement E is false because even a valid instrument must still be checked for reliability; an instrument can be valid in content but inconsistent in performance. Thus, the correct combination must include A, B, C and D and exclude E.

Option A:
Option A omits D, overlooking the idea that how a test appears to stakeholders can influence its acceptance and perceived relevance. While A, B and C are true, excluding D makes the description of validity types incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it brings together all four valid statements about different aspects of validity and leaves out E, which wrongly suggests that reliability checks become unnecessary. The option reflects the standard view that both validity and reliability must be established independently.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it incorporates E, the false statement that validity alone is sufficient and reliability need not be considered. Including E confuses the distinct roles of validity and reliability, even though B and C are correct.

Option D:
Option D is wrong because it excludes B, removing the central notion of construct validity, and includes only A, C and D. Without construct validity, the explanation of how instruments are evaluated remains incomplete.