Evolving considerations and empirical approaches to construct validity in communication science

Nicholas David Bowman, Alan K. Goodboy

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

For social sciences such as communication studies, in which key variables are often indirectly measured using myriad operationalizations, issues of construct validity are critical to the veracity of claims made from empirical data. This manuscript considers the ways we can improve how we demonstrate construct validity when using survey items. Some of these improvements are associated with our discussions of the sources of construct validity, and others are associated with the statistical analyses (and mistakes in those analyses) that we engage to demonstrate construct validity. The end goal of this manuscript is to review and reveal best practices for establishing construct validity as an incremental step in improving the quality of communication science.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)219-234
Number of pages16
JournalAnnals of the International Communication Association
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Unified view of validity
  • confirmatory factor analysis
  • construct validity
  • exploratory factor analysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Communication

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