The entire class was in an uproar. The teaching assistant had proctored the exam while the professor was attending a conference, and the test seemed unrelated to the chapters that they had studied. The students’ complaints are based on the test’s lack of:


a. reliability.
b. validity.
c. aptitude.
d. standardization.

I think it is a or c but I am not too sure.

I disagree.

http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm

Definitely B.

To determine the correct answer, let's understand the definitions of each option:

a. Reliability: This refers to the consistency and stability of a test. A reliable test should produce similar results if administered multiple times.

b. Validity: This refers to the extent to which a test measures what it intends to measure. A valid test should accurately assess the knowledge or skills it claims to assess.

c. Aptitude: This refers to a person's inherent ability or potential to learn or perform a particular task.

d. Standardization: This refers to the process of developing and administering a test according to established procedures and norms, ensuring consistency and fairness.

Based on the given scenario, the students' complaints seem to be directed at the content of the test not being related to the chapters they studied. In this case, the most appropriate answer would be:

b. Validity: The students are questioning whether the test accurately measures what it was intended to measure, which is the knowledge from the chapters they studied.

While reliability (option a) could be a concern in this situation, as it refers to the consistency of the test results, the primary issue here is the alignment of the test content with the material covered.

Option c, aptitude, does not directly relate to the scenario as it focuses on inherent ability rather than the relevance of the test content.

Therefore, the correct answer is b. validity.