Which of the following terms describes the dependency of a test's validity on what it actually measures?

The correct term that describes the dependency of a test's validity on what it actually measures is construct validity. Construct validity refers to the extent to which a test accurately represents the theoretical construct or concept it is intended to measure. This type of validity goes beyond simply assessing whether a test correlates with other measures (as in criterion validity) or whether it appears to measure what it claims to at a surface level (as seen in face validity). It involves a deeper examination of the underlying theoretical framework and ensures that the test items are appropriate and relevant to the construct being measured.

In practice, establishing construct validity requires evidence from multiple sources, including correlational studies, factor analysis, and experimental designs. This comprehensive approach helps to confirm that the test is not only measuring something but is effectively assessing the right aspect of that construct, making it a critical component of test development and evaluation in educational and psychological contexts.