In our second episode, we continue our conversation on Constructs with Gjalt-Jorn, GJ, Peters. We then move on to the measurement of these constructs and the difficulties in assessing the validity of our measurements. GJ introduces us to the idea of Narrative Response Models as a tool to link constructs to measurement instruments and assess their validity.

If you are unsatisfied with current ways to assess validity and want to think more deeply about the connection between what we want to measure and how we measure it, this episode is for you! 

Learn more about the Conceptualization, Formalization and Measurement interest group here: https://cfm.opens.science/

Here are some resources for your further study:

GJ’s website: https://www.behaviorchange.eu/

GJ’s preprint on Narrative Response Models: https://doi.org/px2z 

DCT website: https://open.lnu.se/index.php/metapsychology/article/view/3638

Denny Borsboom, Angelique Cramer, Rogier Kievit, Annemarie Zand Scholten, Sanja Franic (2009). The End of Construct Validity. https://dennyborsboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/borsboomendofcv2009.pdf 

Michael Kane (2013). The argument-based approach to validation. https://doi.org/gjk8mr

Eronen, Markus and Bringmann, Laura (2025). On worms, mirror neurons and explaining human behavior. https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/26718/

In our first guest episode, we talk with Annick De Paepe about why vague construct definitions stall science and how to fix this.

Topics include jingle–jangle pitfalls, pragmatic realism (and why multiple context-specific definitions can coexist), the Decentralised Construct Taxonomy, and a practical 4-step method for crafting definitions—illustrated with HAPA constructs (action planning, coping planning, self-efficacy, action control).

We hope that you leave with concrete steps to write and cite clearer definitions and how to link them to measurement.

Learn more about the Conceptualization, Formalization and Measurement interest group here: https://cfm.opens.science/

Here are some resources for your further study:

De Paepe, A., Perski, O., Tack, E., Van Alboom, M., De Bruecker, M., Van Overbeke, M., … Braun, M. (2025, August 5). Towards clear construct definitions: Applying an iterative approach to constructs of the Health Action Process Approach  (HAPA). https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/wbcn3_v1  

Podsakoff, P.M., MacKenzie, S.B. & Podsakoff, N.P. (2016). Recommendations for creating better concept definitions in the organizational, behavioral and social sciences. Organizational Rsearch Methods, 19(2):159-203. https://doi/10.1177/1094428115624965

Bringmann, L.F., Elmer, T. & Eronen, M.I. Back to basics: The importance of conceptual clarification in psychological science. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 31(4):340-346. https://https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721422109648 

MacKenzie, S.B., Podsakoff, P.M. & Podsakoff, N.P. Construct measurement and validation procedures in MIS and behavioral research: integrating new and existing techniques. MIS Quarterly, 35(2):293-334. https://doi.org/10.2307/23044045 

Peters, G.-J.& Crutzen, R. (2024). Knowing what we’re talking about: Facilitating Decentralized Unequivocal Publication of and Reference to Psychological Construct definitions and instructions. Meta-Psychology, 8. https://doi.org/10.15626/MP.2022.3638 

Welcome to the first ever episode of the Define and Conquer Podcast. The podcast covers issues in theories, concepts, models and measurements that health psychologists face in their research.

We are your hosts, Olga Perski and Christoph Bamberg. Here, we briefly go through the exciting topics we will cover in the coming episodes. We will get help from experts from the European Health Psychology Special Interest Group Conceptualisation, Formalisation and Measurement to address these topics.

Stay tuned for the next episode - coming soon!