Jari-Erik Nurmi
I will take a more practical, interpersonal,
and empirical view to concepts/ constructs
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… different in different disciplines
- mathematics, formal logic, …
- philosophy, social sciences, …
- psychology
My background is …
- developmental and educational
psychology
- empirical research and statistical analysis
 Practical use of concepts
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A concept is an abstract and generalized idea
that refers to some phenomenon in world
(or somewhere else).
A construct (or factor) refers to a concept
including an idea about how it is measured
I use these words to refer same thing
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Abstract and general representation of a
group of similar objects
Concept: A representation, image, schema,
internal model, script, etc.
Concepts are represented in human memory
as memory traces
Ulric Neisser: Perceptual cycle
 Concepts direct and regulate:
- perception
- behavior
In other words, ...
… concepts are important parts of
scientific reasoning and testing
theories
Theories
Model construction
Concepts/
constructs
Concept analysis
Operationalization
Phenomena
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Formal conceptual analysis is seldom done in
empirical research
What is more important is to make sure that
other scientists understand what you mean
by using particular concepts/ constructs
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We typically talk and write to people who are
members of the same ”language community”
For this reason conceptual analysis is not
typically needed, as ...
 You operate in certain language community, and
 participants share the same understanding of the
constructs
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A: People use different concepts to refer to
same phenomenon
B: People use a same concept to refer to
somewhat different phenomenon, or ...
C: The borders of used concepts are ”fuzzy”
A
C
C
P
B
C
C
P
P
P
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Concepts as such are seldom interesting
What is interesting is the theories and models
that are defined on the basis of concepts
Particularly interesting is whether the
theories and models ...
 desribe phenomena in valid, meaningful and
useful ways
 Are true: they represent reality
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Idea  identify key concepts to describe your
idea
 For example, ”children’s characteristics activate
certain kind of parenting”
 ”children’s characteristics” ”impact” ”parenting”
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What you mean by each concept ?
 Previous use of concept (history)
 Do your undertanding match with previous
understanding
 if so, no need to define the concept
 if not, define the concept or create a new
one
 Is there other related concepts, and what is the
relation of your concept to the other concepts
 If not clear, define your concept in relation to other
concepts
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The role of concept (s) in the model
 Does the model or theory require definition or
specification of your concept
 Does the operationalization require definition or
specification of your concept
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Tell about your idea, concepts, model or
theory to other people
 Do they understand what you say
 What kind of questions they have
 It is very important people understand you
concepts and models
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Make a literacy search concerning your
concepts and models: what is known
previously?
 modify your concepts, model or theory
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Plan a study to test your model or theory
 Operationalize the concepts
 Plan the research design
 Define what kind of results would provide
evidence or counter evidence for your model
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May be important in empirical research
Is very important in theoretical reviews
Is crucial in conducting meta-analyses
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Plan the way to measure your concept
 Is there available measures of the concept/ construct
 use them
 If not  create a new measure
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What is the best data source:
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self-report
Others’ report
archival data
Tests
Physiological measurement
etc.
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Make sure your concept/ construct is
measured in valid and reliable way
 Test a measurement model of the concept/
construct
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A concept or construct is measured by the
use of variables
 Decide the scale you use (categorical, ordinal or
nominal)
 Use several variables per concept/ construct
 You can an estimate the reliability and goodness
of measurement
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Select variables to measure you concept/
construct
Create a measurement model by using
confirmatory factor analysis
Test the measurement model
Test invariance of measurement in different
samples
Calculate also reliabilities for the construct:
 Internal consistency
 Split-half
 Stability
Construct
V1
V2
V3
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What is the fit of the model: i.e., does model
fit the empirical data
Are factor loadings OK
Is there a need to estimate the error terms of
Vars
V11
T1
T2
Construct
1
Construct
2
V12
V13
V21
V22
V23
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In addition …
Can factor loading T1 and T2 be set to be
identical
How stable is the construct
Is there a need to estimate the error terms of
between Vars T1 and T2
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Go to groups of 4-6 people
Discuss:
 When to use old concept and when to create new
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concept?
Who needs to undertand your concepts?
What is important in operationalization of the
concept?
Was there something you did not understand?
What would you like to ask from the lecturer?