Which term refers to the validity of measurement in research?

The term that refers to the validity of measurement in research is validity. Validity assesses whether a measurement tool actually measures what it intends to measure. For example, if a survey aims to evaluate a person's anxiety levels, it is only valid if the questions accurately capture the concept of anxiety, rather than measuring something else such as depression or stress.

In research, ensuring that your measurements are valid is crucial because it affects the credibility and applicability of your findings. A valid measurement helps researchers make informed conclusions based on the data collected, thus contributing to the overall integrity of the research process. Other terms, while relevant in the context of research measurements, describe different aspects. Reliability pertains to the consistency of a measurement, objectivity refers to the absence of bias in measurement, and accuracy relates to how close a measurement is to the true value, but none of these terms directly define the validity of measurement itself.