What concept implies that research successfully measures its intended target, ensuring the results are reliable?

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The concept that indicates research successfully measures its intended target, which ensures that the results are reliable, is validity. Validity refers to the degree to which a tool, test, or study accurately measures what it purports to measure. For instance, if a psychological test is designed to assess anxiety, it should effectively capture the levels of anxiety in participants, reflecting true scores rather than unrelated factors. In this context, validity ensures that the findings are meaningful and can be trusted to represent the actual phenomena being studied.

In contrast, reliability refers to the consistency of a measure across time and different contexts, which relates to whether the same results can be repeated under similar conditions. Accuracy pertains to the closeness of a measured value to its true value. Consistency focuses on maintaining a stable quality over time. While these concepts are interconnected in research, validity specifically addresses the correctness of what you are measuring, making it foundational for ensuring research outcomes reflect the intended target.

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