ArticleQuality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation2026
The argument-based approach to validity: theory, assumptions, evidence, and consequences.
Article in Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Measurement validity: essential in principle, subordinated in practice.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Translation and cultural adaptation of the health literacy questionnaire (HLQ) in Morocco.Journal of patient-reported outcomes · 2026Article
- Developing a validity testing plan for a patient-reported outcome measure in a new context using the argument-based approach to validity.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundConcerns about measurement validation are often expressed as imperatives to use a "valid measure". However, validity is not a characteristic of a measure. Instead, validation and validity refer to score interpretation within a context of use. This is important because responses to health measures can be different in different contexts, influencing equitable consequences of measurement. In this paper, we aim to (1) outline the theory of the argument-based approach to validity, and (2) discuss assumptions and evidence in relation to equitable consequences of measurement.
methodsThe argument-based approach to validity asks us to first state how scores will be interpreted and used in context. Assumptions underpinning this statement guide validation planning. Existing and new evidence need to be examined and evaluated in relation to the assumptions and concept of interest, leading to a reasoned evidence-based argument about the degree to which score interpretation in a context of use is valid, with consideration of potential threats to validity and measurement consequences.
resultsKey assumptions are described, including why evidence is needed, what evidence tells us, and the importance of assumptions in relation to the equitable consequences of measurement.
conclusionThe argument-based approach to validity shifts the focus of validation to a score's interpretation and use in a context, in relation to the concept of interest. A validity argument is built from evidence about the plausibility of the score interpretation in the context of use with consideration of the degree to which measurement consequences will lead to the intended beneficial health consequences and not perpetuate existing inequities in health.
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