Validity

Definition

Validity refers to the quality of being logically or factually sound; the state of having clear and justifiable value or worth.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /vəˈlɪdəti/
• Respelling: vuh-LID-uh-tee (with "vuh" and the second "uh" representing the schwa sound, similar to the 'a' in "sofa" or the 'u' in "supply")

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /vəˈlɪdɪti/
• Respelling: vuh-LID-i-tee (with "vuh" representing the schwa, and "i" in "i-tee" pronounced like the 'i' in "city")

In both dialects, the initial syllable "va-" is pronounced with the schwa, producing a muted, unstressed "uh" sound. The difference between American and British pronunciations primarily lies in the final syllable, with American English ending in "-tee" and British English in "-ity."

Etymology

The term "validity" is derived from the Latin word "validus", which means "strong". Introduced into English in the 16th century, it was used to denote the state or condition of being valid, i.e., being grounded in logic, truth, or fact.

Derivatives

• Validate
• Validator
• Invalidity
• Revalidate
• Validly

Synonyms

• Legitimacy
• Authenticity
• Soundness

Antonyms

• Invalidity
• Falseness
• Unsoundness

Usage

• "The validity of the research was questioned due to its limited sample size."
• "He challenged the validity of the contract."

Related Terms

• Verification
• Justification
• Reliability
• Credibility
• Confirmation

Detailed Definition

Noun

• State of Being Valid: The quality or state of being legally or officially acceptable.
• Example: The validity of the document was confirmed by experts.

• Logical or Factual Soundness: The quality of being based on truth or fact; the quality of being justifiable.
• Example: The experiment was designed to test the validity of the hypothesis.

• Effectiveness or Efficacy: The quality of producing the desired result.
• Example: The validity of the new teaching method was supported by improved student outcomes.

• (In Research) The Degree to Which a Test or Experiment Measures What It is Intended to Measure: It ensures that the research findings are reflective of the concept the research intends to measure.
• Example: Content validity and criterion validity are two types of validity used in research design.