On the Value of Homogeneous Constructs for Construct Validation, Theory Testing, and the Description of Psychopathology
Saved in:
| Title: | On the Value of Homogeneous Constructs for Construct Validation, Theory Testing, and the Description of Psychopathology |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Smith, Gregory T., McCarthy, Denis M., Zapolski, Tamika C. B. |
| Source: | Psychological Assessment. Sep 2009 21(3):272-284. |
| Availability: | American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Physical Description: | |
| Page Count: | 13 |
| Publication Date: | 2009 |
| Intended Audience: | Researchers |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Evaluative |
| Descriptors: | Scientific Methodology, Mental Disorders, Construct Validity, Psychopathology, Psychometrics, Clinical Psychology, Researchers, Clinical Diagnosis, Therapy, Outcomes of Treatment, Factor Analysis, Identification |
| DOI: | 10.1037/a0016699 |
| ISSN: | 1040-3590 |
| Abstract: | The authors argue for a significant shift in how clinical psychology researchers conduct construct validation and theory validation tests. They argue that sound theory and validation tests can best be conducted on measures of unidimensional or homogeneous constructs. Hierarchical organizations of such constructs are useful descriptively and theoretically, but higher order composites do not refer to definable psychological processes. Application of this perspective to the approach of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to describing psychopathology calls into doubt the traditional use of the syndromal approach, in which single scores reflect the presence of multidimensional disorders. For many forms of psychological dysfunction, this approach does not appear optimal and may need to be discarded. The authors note that their perspective represents a straightforward application of existing psychometric theory, they demonstrate the practical value of adopting this perspective, and they provide evidence that this shift is already under way among clinical researchers. Description in terms of homogeneous dimensions provides improved validity, utility, and parsimony. In contrast, the use of composite diagnoses can retard scientific progress and hamper clinicians' efforts to understand and treat dysfunction. (Contains 1 figure.) |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 96 |
| Entry Date: | 2009 |
| Accession Number: | EJ859921 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The authors argue for a significant shift in how clinical psychology researchers conduct construct validation and theory validation tests. They argue that sound theory and validation tests can best be conducted on measures of unidimensional or homogeneous constructs. Hierarchical organizations of such constructs are useful descriptively and theoretically, but higher order composites do not refer to definable psychological processes. Application of this perspective to the approach of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to describing psychopathology calls into doubt the traditional use of the syndromal approach, in which single scores reflect the presence of multidimensional disorders. For many forms of psychological dysfunction, this approach does not appear optimal and may need to be discarded. The authors note that their perspective represents a straightforward application of existing psychometric theory, they demonstrate the practical value of adopting this perspective, and they provide evidence that this shift is already under way among clinical researchers. Description in terms of homogeneous dimensions provides improved validity, utility, and parsimony. In contrast, the use of composite diagnoses can retard scientific progress and hamper clinicians' efforts to understand and treat dysfunction. (Contains 1 figure.) |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1040-3590 |
| DOI: | 10.1037/a0016699 |
