What is the difference between valid and accurate?

The distinction between validity and accuracy is crucial in understanding their applications, especially in the realms of research and communication. Validity refers to whether a tool or method measures what it claims to measure. In other words, if a test is valid, it is assessing the concept it is intended to evaluate. Accuracy, on the other hand, pertains to the closeness of a measurement or conclusion to the actual value or truth. When something is accurate, it means that it is free from errors and closely aligns with the factual reality.

In the context of this question, validity does not necessarily mean that something is factual; rather, it focuses on whether the method of measurement or analysis is appropriate for the intended purpose. Conversely, accuracy does not inherently relate to bias but suggests how well the output of a measurement compares to the actual standard or true value. Thus, the choice that asserts valid means factual while accurate means unbiased does not hold, making a clear distinction that true validity pertains to the proper measurement framework, while accuracy deals with the faithfulness of that measurement to reality.

This understanding underscores why the chosen answer reflects the specific and nuanced definitions of both terms within the fields of communication and research methodology.