What is the difference between content and criterion validity?

Content validity and criterion validity are two types of validity in research:

  • Content validity ensures that an instrument measures all elements of the construct it intends to measure.
    • A survey to investigate depression has high content validity if its questions cover all relevant aspects of the construct “depression.”
  • Criterion validity ensures that an instrument corresponds with other “gold standard” measures of the same construct.
    • A shortened version of an established anxiety assessment instrument has high criterion validity if the outcomes of the new version are similar to those of the original version.