Diagnostics: Multitrait Multimethod Analyses (Psychology, Research Methods)

Whenever a new instrument (e.g. questionnaire, test, etc.) for detecting a psychological construct (e.g. intelligence, creativity, depression, etc.) is developed, the developer hast to prove that his new instrument actually measures what it's supposed to measure (validity).
If an (alleged) intelligence test in fact does not measure intelligence but creativity or test anxiety, one could draw wrong conclusions. The consequences could be devastating.
The multitrait-multimethod analysis developed by Campbell and Fiske (1959) provides one way to examine the construct validity of an instrument.

Keywords:
Multitrait-multimethod analysis - Construct validity - convergent validity - discriminant validity - Creativity Questionnaire - test construction - test theory - Measures the questionnaire really creativity? - multi-method: questionnaire / test - multitrait: creativity / intelligence - fluid intelligence - crystallized intelligence - creativity test - retest reliability coefficients - monotrait mono method - heterotrait mono method - monotrait- hetero- method - heterotrait-hetero method - weakness of the method: only visual inspection - Confirmatory factor analysis - model can be tested - psychology