What does low content validity in IQ testing suggest?

Low content validity in IQ testing indicates that the test does not adequately measure the construct it is intended to measure, which in this case is intelligence. Content validity refers to how well a test's items represent the entire domain of the concept being measured. When a test has low content validity, it suggests that it measures attributes that are not relevant to intelligence, leading to incomplete or distorted conclusions about an individual's intellectual capabilities.

For example, if an IQ test primarily focuses on verbal skills while neglecting other critical areas like spatial reasoning and logical problem-solving, it fails to capture the full spectrum of what constitutes intelligence. Therefore, if the items do not represent key aspects of the construct, the test may inaccurately reflect an individual's cognitive abilities, highlighting the importance of ensuring that all components of intelligence are adequately assessed. This is why the assertion about measuring irrelevant attributes aligns with the concept of low content validity.