Survey content evidence can be gathered by looking at the relationship between the content on a survey and the construct it is intending to measure. Evidence of survey content validity can come in the form of logical or empirical analyses to examine the relationship between the content and the interpretation of survey results or expert judgements about the relationship.

For detailed information about FSSE content, see the FSSE Content Summaries.

Response process evidence concerns the fit between the construct being measured and the response given by the survey taker. Such evidence is generally collected from individual responses by interrogating survey respondents about their strategies for responding to particular items.

See the following studies that provide evidence for response process validity: 

• Equivalence or How Often Is Often (2014)
• Nonresponse Bias (2014)
• Social Desirability (2014)
• Write-In Analysis (2018)

Evidence of internal structure validity indicates the degree to which the interrelationships among survey items and survey components conform to the construct on which the survey result interpretations are based.

See the following studies that provide evidence for internal structure validity: 

In the case that the intended interpretation of survey results should be related to other variables, analyses of that relationship using external results provides evidence of relations to other variables.

See the following studies that provide evidence for valid relations to other variables: 

• Convergent & Divergent Correlations (2018)

Evidence for the consequences of survey use can be gathered by evaluating the soundness of the proposed interpretations compared to their intended uses. 

To see examples of how institutions use FSSE data see Lessons from the Field. To see examples of our FSSE researchers use FSSE data see our Publications and Presentations.