Which statement best characterizes the relationship of reliability to validity?

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, meaning that if the same test were administered multiple times under similar conditions, it would yield similar results. Validity, on the other hand, assesses whether the test truly measures what it claims to measure. For a test to be valid, it must first be reliable; if a test produces inconsistent results, it cannot be considered valid. In essence, a valid measure cannot exist without a foundation of reliability, as inconsistent results inherently undermine the credibility of measuring the intended construct. Thus, the correct statement is that reliability is a prerequisite for validity.