Construct Validity
Construct validity is a term often central to theoretical testing literature. In simple
terms, construct validity encompasses whether or not the test is actually
testing the criteria it claims to test (Bachman, 1990; Hughes, 1989; Weir 1990). Hughes
(1989: 26) explains this further by stating that “the word construct refers to any underlying
ability which is hypothesised in a theory of language ability”, which Brown (2001: 389)
highlights further by posing the question, “Does the test tap into the theoretical construct as it
has been defined?”. Construct validity therefore reflects the area of target language ability
being measured and very little else (Bachman & Palmer, 1996: 21). Hughes (1989: 27) goes