Validation of Driving Simulators

This paper, from a special issue on driving simulator applications in research and clinical practice, provides a literature review of driving simulator validation studies. The author stresses that simulator validity is a complex and multi-faceted issue. Thus, there is a controversy regarding whether or not driving simulators are valid and reliable predictors of on-road driving performance. The author addresses the possible reasons for the controversy, suggests using health measurement terminology for simulator validity, and offers ways to match the types of measurement validity terms with examples of existing diving simulator validation studies. Specific types of validity discussed include face and content validity; construct validity; and criterion-related validity, including concurrent and predictive. This paper is an expansion of the 2010 STISIM User Conference Keynote lecture on validating driving simulators.