What does the infrequency validity scale measure?

What does the infrequency validity scale measure?

• A. Consistency of responses
• B. Time to complete
• C. Careless or random responding
• D. Effort in answering

Answer: (C)

The infrequency validity scale looks for patterns of answering that are rare in the general population. It uses items that most people wouldn’t endorse, so if someone marks a lot of these, it suggests they weren’t answering thoughtfully and may have produced carelessly or randomly. This helps flag invalid results so interpretations aren’t based on inconsistent or fake responses. It’s not about how consistently someone answers across related items, how long they take to finish, or how much effort they put in—the scale specifically targets responses that are unusually infrequent.

The infrequency validity scale looks for patterns of answering that are rare in the general population. It uses items that most people wouldn’t endorse, so if someone marks a lot of these, it suggests they weren’t answering thoughtfully and may have produced carelessly or randomly. This helps flag invalid results so interpretations aren’t based on inconsistent or fake responses. It’s not about how consistently someone answers across related items, how long they take to finish, or how much effort they put in—the scale specifically targets responses that are unusually infrequent.