What term describes the accuracy with which a test fulfills its intended function?

The term that describes the accuracy with which a test fulfills its intended function is known as validity. Validity refers specifically to whether a test measures what it is supposed to measure. It assesses the appropriateness and meaningfulness of the inferences made from test scores. For instance, if a psychological test is designed to measure intelligence, its validity would determine how well the test actually measures intelligence rather than other factors like memory skills or educational background.

In the context of human resources, understanding validity is crucial as it helps ensure that selection tests, assessments, or evaluations provide accurate indications of a candidate's capabilities or the effectiveness of training programs. High validity implies that outcomes derived from the tests can be trusted to reflect true performance or suitability for the position in question.

Reliability, while also an important concept, refers to the consistency of a test's results over time or across different populations, rather than the accuracy of what is being measured. Precision often relates to the exactness of measurements, and consistency implies repeatability, but neither fully encapsulates the concept of accurately fulfilling a test's intended purpose like validity does.