Which type of validity addresses how well a test measures what it intends to measure?

The concept in question is primarily addressed by construct validity. Construct validity assesses how well a test accurately measures the theoretical construct or concept it purports to measure. Essentially, it ensures that the test is not only making surface-level judgments but also reflects deeper properties of the construct itself.

To elaborate, construct validity involves a thorough investigation of the relationships between the test scores and other measures that are theoretically related to the construct, including both convergent and discriminant validity. This type of validity is crucial for ensuring that the inferences made based on the test outcomes are sound and that they reflect the underlying theories guiding the assessment.

Other types of validity mentioned, like criterion-related validity, relate to how well one measure predicts an outcome based on another established measure, while content validity examines the extent to which the test covers the representative breadth of the construct. Face validity, on the other hand, refers to the extent to which a test appears to measure what it claims to measure based merely on subjective judgment. While all these forms of validity are important for a comprehensive understanding of a test's effectiveness, construct validity is the most applicable when determining if a test truly measures what it is intended to.