What is the goal of discriminant validity?

The goal of discriminant validity is indeed to differentiate between those who possess a specific trait and those who do not. This form of validity ensures that a test measures what it is intended to measure and does not overlap with other constructs that it is not meant to assess. Discriminant validity is established when a test shows low correlations with measures of different constructs, thereby demonstrating that the test is not merely reflecting other unrelated traits or factors.

In practice, achieving discriminant validity is important for confirming that a psychological assessment or measuring instrument is accurately capturing the unique attributes or behaviors it aims to evaluate. For example, if a new test is designed to measure depression, discriminant validity would be demonstrated if this test shows little correlation with anxiety measures, indicating that it specifically captures depressive symptoms without being influenced by anxiety-related traits.

This specificity ensures that practitioners can rely on the assessment results to make informed decisions about interventions and treatments. The other options relate to different aspects of testing and measurement, such as reliability and similarities between traits, but do not specifically address the unique focus of discriminant validity.