ABSTRACT
Empirical validity is referred to as predictive validity or criterion-related validity. It is when researchers make planned comparisons to see if a measure yields scores that relate to the chosen criterion. For instance, if one compares performance on a college entrance exam with students' subsequent college grade point averages, this is an assessment of empirical validity. Sometimes, researchers determine the empirical validity of a test that is not designed to predict future behavior. For instance, a new self-administered version of the Addiction Severity Index was validated by correlating scores on it with scores obtained using the expensive and time-consuming original version, which involves a lengthy, structured clinical interview. A validity coefficient that is obtained by administering the test and collecting the criterion data at about the same time is called a concurrent validity coefficient as opposed to a predictive validity coefficient.
